Ian Update 42: FEMA, county divisions, damage assessment, shelter, power, mold

Posted On: October 3, 2022

Recovery efforts continue across Volusia County. Here’s the latest information from Volusia County’s Emergency Operations Center.

FEMA Update

Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 4, FEMA will deploy multiple disaster assistance teams within the county. The teams will serve as liaisons between affected residents and the emergency operations center and our FEMA representatives. All FEMA staff will be credentialed with FEMA markings. The county wants to assure residents that the FEMA staff are official and legitimate.

County division efforts

Coastal

The Coastal Division continues to assess ramps, walkovers, parks and restrooms after widespread wreckage was done by Ian. Many walkovers were damaged and will require repair before reopening. All 16 coastal parks sustained damages but coastal is working hard to have a handful accessible to the public shortly. Beach ramps are being assessed for damage and any ramps that can be used by contractors in need of emergency repairs to private property are being made available. Some vehicular beach approaches have been fenced off for public safety. Do not go past a barricade as they have been installed as a safety measure. As repairs are made, the barricades will be removed.

Environmental Management

Volusia County Environmental Management is available to assist residents with emergency repairs needed after Ian’s destruction along the coast. Any construction activity done on the beach requires a county Beach and Dune permit. Any private property owner requiring vehicle access to the beach for cleanup or construction will need to coordinate through the environmental management office.

Questions can be directed to Ryan Chabot at 386-717-0602. Residents can apply for the emergency permit online at www.Volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource-management/environmental-management/permitting/beach-dune-permit.stml or they can apply at the Volusia County Beach Safety Headquarters at 515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.

Environmental management cannot issue permits for permanent structures or repairs to previously unpermitted structures.

Information Technology (IT)

The Volusia County IT division activated staff during the storm to keep essential communications systems in place and have continued their efforts after the storm by restoring service outages and repairing and replacing damaged hardware and equipment.

Parks, Recreation and Culture

Volusia County Parks, Recreation and Culture staff has started the process of assessing damage and opening parks once they are deemed safe. The following county maintained parks are open: Barkley Square Dog Park, Lake Dias Park (boat ramp closed), Ed Stone Park (boat ramp closed), Hester Park, Hope Place Play Yard, Lake George Park, Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park (two tennis courts are closed), Osteen Civic Center, River Breeze Park (boat ramp closed), Seville Park, Spring Hill Park and Sylvester Bruten Park (two pavilions closed).

All other parks, trails and boat ramps remain closed at this time.

Damage assessment

Countywide assessments are being conducted by the Volusia County Property Appraiser’s office. As of Monday afternoon, Oct. 3, the damage assessment totals amount is $131,579,564. This continues to be an ongoing assessment and the total damage amounts are subject to change.

Power

As of 1 p.m. Oct. 3, about 36,077 Volusia County customers remained without power. This number continues to decrease as power companies are working diligently to restore power to every residence and business. We are grateful to the utility staff working around the clock to bring that number down from our highest amount of around 247,000 outages on the morning of Sept. 30.

Shelter information

The Ocean Center in Daytona Beach remains open as the county’s general population and special needs shelter for those requiring temporary transitional housing. The center is currently housing 177 people, including 22 special needs patients. The shelter will continue to accept all residents. Special needs patients may be accompanied by one caregiver. The shelter is pet friendly and owners are asked to bring necessary pet items and supplies. Local government entities and community organizations are collaborating to find longer-term housing for affected residents.

The previous shelters used by Volusia County are now closed.

Minimize mold after flooding

The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) urges the public to act now to minimize mold caused from Hurricane Ian’s massive rainfall.

As cleaning efforts begin, the FDOH offers the following tips to clean up mold and protect yourself:

• Protect yourself: Wear personal protective equipment (cleaning appropriate gloves, N95 respirator/mask, and safety goggles) to protect your skin, mouth, nose, lungs and eyes.

• Toss/take it out: Anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned or that was not completely dried within 48 hours should be taken outside. Take photos of all discarded items to assist with filing insurance claims.

• Air out: Open all doors and windows when removing wet or moldy materials, or when cleaning moldy surfaces.

• Drying it out: When electricity is safe to use, close doors and windows and use fans and dehumidifiers to help remove moisture indoors. Dehumidifiers can only dehumidify under closed indoor conditions. Dry your home and everything in it as quickly as possible.

• Don’t mix cleaners: If using cleaning chemicals, do not mix cleaning products together. Mixing cleaners can create toxic and deadly vapors.

• Scrub surfaces: Clean with water and detergent. Remove all visible mold and dry right away.

• Don’t cover it, remove it: Painting or caulking over mold will not prevent mold from growing. Dry it out and remove all the mold before you paint or caulk.

• Consider your medical status: Individuals with suppressed or impaired immune systems, mold allergies, asthma, or other chronic lung disease should not clean or remove moldy materials. See your doctor if you are unsure of your medical status. Seek immediate medical attention if you’re not feeling well.

• Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning: Never use gasoline or propane-powered tools or generators indoors. These devices produce very hazardous carbon monoxide that is invisible and odorless and can kill you within minutes. If using a generator, place it at least 20 feet from all buildings. Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home.

For more information about indoor air quality and mold growth, contact the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County at 386-274-0694 or visit www.floridahealth.gov/indoorair.

Updated information can be found at Volusia.org/PIN. Also, the Citizens Information Center (CIC) remains open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to answer questions. The phone number is 866-345-0345.