Hurricane Ian Advisory #1: Closures, drainage, utilities, trash collection, City events and more...

PORT ST. LUCIE - The City of Port St. Lucie is closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Ian and is preparing for any potential weather impacts it could bring. Due to the impeding impact of Hurricane Ian, City Manager Russ Blackburn will be making an emergency declaration effective at 8 p.m. today.

A Special City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at 8 a.m. at City Hall to affirm the declaration. As a result, all City facilities, including City Hall, the MIDFLORIDA Event Center and Community Center will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 a.m. A decision on whether City offices and facilities will remain closed Thursday, Sept. 29, will be made by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The City of Port St. Lucie's public information updates regarding Hurricane Ian can be found at www.CityofPSL.com/Ian. This site includes updates on closures, information about drainage and utilities, trash collection, City events and more.

The City encourages residents to monitor the National Weather Service/National Hurricane Center for the latest updates on the storm track and intensity. Below are important points of information the City would like residents to keep in mind:

Meetings: The following meetings scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28, have been canceled: Special Magistrate, Site Plan Review and Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Please visit the City's calendar for more information at www.CityofPSL.com/Calendar.

Solid Waste Collection: Due to anticipated weather issues and expected landfill closures, solid waste services could be impacted. Only residents who are Wednesday customers should set out garbage and recycling carts. If weather conditions deteriorate or the landfill closes, route managers will track any incomplete routes. Once the conditions are deemed safe, collection will resume to complete all Wednesday routes and begin to move into Thursday routes. The City will provide continuous updates.

Residents should not trim trees or put out large piles of yard waste as they may not be collected before the storm. Residents also should avoid placing large piles of trash or bulky items at the curb until the storm passes. For information on your scheduled collection day, visit www.CityofPSL.com/SolidWaste.

Vegetative Debris Drop-Off: The drop-off center, located at the Public Works Complex on the corner of Cameo Boulevard and Crosstown Parkway, will be closed to the public Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Building: The Building Department would like to remind all contractors of the following:

• Secure all trash, debris and construction material at all construction sites.
• Secure portable toilets in garages, when available.
• Have all drainage areas unblocked and free to allow water to flow properly.
• Restrict further deliveries of supplies to job sites.

Public Works: Public Works staff continues to monitor water levels and clear debris from drainage systems. Recent rains have saturated the ground and that additional rainfall will cause water to temporarily stage in the roadways.

Police Department: The Port St. Lucie Police Department has activated its Hurricane Operations Plan. Officers will continue to provide city-wide protection, security, traffic control and other law enforcement services to ensure a safe environment during Hurricane Ian. Residents are asked to be careful driving in rain or wet conditions and to turn your car around when you encounter flooded streets before, during, and after storms.

Please remember to call 911 if you need a police officer, however, as the weather deteriorates, the Police Department will prioritize calls and some minor calls for service may not warrant a response if it is determined to be too dangerous to respond.

Parks & Recreation: Due to wet conditions, all park and field reservations have been canceled within City parks, effective today, Sept. 27 through Sept. 29. On Friday, Sept. 30, the City will re-evaluate the condition of the fields and will determine at that time whether to re-open to the public.

Rock Steady Boxing at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Event Center Recreation & Fitness Center has been canceled, effective today through Thursday, Sept. 29. The cancellation will be re-evaluated based on conditions to resume Friday, Sept. 30.

The Community Center, MIDFLORIDA Event Center Recreation & Fitness Center, Minsky Gym, City parks and The Saints Golf Course will be closed to the public Wednesday, Sept. 28. Weekend events are still scheduled and planned to go forward.

The C-24, Oak Hammock and Rivergate boat ramps will remain open for 24 hours until further notice.

MIDFLORIDA Event Center: The MIDFLORIDA Event Center will be closed to the public Wednesday, Sept. 28. Weekend events are still scheduled and plan to go forward.

Utility Systems Customers: Avoid the long lines to purchase water and save money, too, by filling up containers with tap water. Our water is treated by reverse osmosis and purified with minerals, like many bottled waters on the market. Here's a link to more info about storm preparation and recovery: https://utility.cityofpsl.com/get-connected/divisions/connection-support-billing/storm-preparation-recovery/

The City recommends customers conserve water during a power outage, not because there will be a shortage of water, but because water going down the drain or toilet will quickly fill up your grinder or STEP tank. Without power, the wastewater cannot be pumped out of the tank.

To prevent your tank from quickly filling up, only flush when necessary, avoid taking long showers and running the dishwasher or washing machine. The Utility Systems department will make every effort possible to pump out or pump down a customer's grinder or STEP system during the recovery period after a storm or hurricane. If a resident is experiencing any issues with their service, please call Utility Systems Connection Support at 772-873-6400.

Stormwater and Swales: In preparation of any potential heavy rain, residents are asked to keep swales clean of debris such as overgrown grass and leaf litter. A swale liner is placed at the bottom of the swale to help move stormwater flowing through the system. Learn more about what to expect with our swale and drainage system at www.CityofPSL.com/Swale.

1PSL/Hotlines: Residents can contact the city through our 1PSL customer service system at 772-871-1775 or through the 1PSL app. St. Lucie County's EOC hotline is 772-460-HELP. Please reserve 911 for emergency calls.

Stay connected: For up-to-the-minute updates, please check the City's dedicated website www.CityofPSL.com/Ian. This site will include updates on closures, information about drainage and utilities, trash collection, City events and more. Residents are also encouraged to follow the City on the City's social media sites, Facebook page @CityofPSL, Twitter page @CityPortStLucie and NextDoor page, as information changes quickly. Residents can also sign up to receive phone calls, text messages or emails from the City. Registration is quick, easy and free of charge!

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