PBC Emergency Response Activity Summary #5

For immediate release: 4:00 P.M. September 2, 2012
Contact: Public Affairs 561-662-7549

Palm Beach County continues to work in response to Tropical Storm Isaac. County employees are working in the field, county offices and the Emergency Operations Center.

Partners in the response efforts include the State of Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Florida Water Management District, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Health, Department of Environmental Protection, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Division of Forestry, the Disaster Recovery Coalition, and the South Florida Fair, and others.

Below is a summary of the response efforts and facts about current operations in Palm Beach County:

• The Emergency Operations Center remains at Level 2 activation.

• Emergency managers again toured flooded areas by helicopter. The situation is improving in the most flooded areas. Water is moving, pumps are working, canals are intact, and there are no breaches in levees or dikes.

• FEMA and state damage assessment teams are inspecting flood-impacted areas. No funds are being distributed at this time. If a disaster is declared, FEMA will accept applications for eligible assistance.

• The Solid Waste Authority set up garbage and recycling trucks and personnel in The Acreage. This service will continue Monday, September 3 through Wednesday, September 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:

• Acreage Community Park, 6701 140th Avenue North, one block south of Orange Boulevard
• Temple Park, Temple Blvd. 2.5 miles west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd.

• Fish Kills - Many residents are reporting dead fish. Wildlife officials will not come out to collect dead fish. Palm Beach County has contracted a private vendor to collect dead fish from reported canals. Residents can take properly bagged dead fish to a Solid Waste Authority pickup location. Fish must be double-bagged or single-bagged in a container weighing no more than 50 pounds.

• Animal Care and Control is collecting donated feed supplies to assist livestock owners. Items needed are horse feed (any brand of pelleted grain feed); chicken feed; goat feed; hay. Donations may be delivered to the main shelter, 7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach. Closed Monday (Labor Day). Note: no cash donations, feed only please.

• The Palm Beach County Health Department is working with the county to address concerns with public health issues. Palm Beach County Mosquito Control successfully sprayed 270,000 acres in the west-central area Friday evening.

• The county’s Emergency Information Center activated on 8/26/12 and has responded to 3,523 calls from the public.