Fort Pierce - Wednesday September 28, 2022: The City of Fort Pierce is continuing to monitor Hurricane Ian and preparing for any potential impact.
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for most of Florida’s east coast. Winds will increase Wednesday and are forecast to be 30-35 mph sustained with gusts to 55 mph.
Rainfall totals are expected to total 4- 6 inches through Saturday with some areas receiving 6-8 inches.
No storm surge is anticipated.
The Saint Lucie County Emergency Operations Center is operating at a modified Level II status which includes only EOC personnel. St. Lucie County opened an information line for residents to call for storm information.
It will be answered from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The number is 772-460-4357.
Closures
* All City Hall will be closed to the public, Wednesday, September 28, and Thursday, September 29.
* St. Lucie Public Schools and district offices will be closed Wednesday, September 28, and Thursday, September 29.
* The St. Lucie County’s public transportation system, ART (Area Regional Transit), bus service will also continue to operate as long as the weather allows. Riders are encouraged to monitor the schedule using the RouteShout application, available on the Apple Store and Google Play sites.
* Indian River State College will be closed to employees, students, and visitors starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 27. All classes (including online classes) and campus events are canceled. The college will remain closed on Wednesday, September. 28. IRSC continues to monitor Hurricane Ian and will assess conditions to determine when it is safe to reopen.
State of Emergency Declared
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for all 67 counties on Saturday, September 24. St. Lucie County declared a Local State of Emergency at 9 a.m. on September 27. The City of Fort Pierce declared a State of Emergency at 11:00 AM.
Shelters
There are no plans to issue evacuations or open shelters in St. Lucie County at this time.
Sand Distribution
The City of Fort Pierce is offering free self-serve sandbag stations for residents at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dreamland Park (S. 25th St.), Pioneer Park (Ave M and N. 29th St.), and Jaycee Park (South Hutchinson Island). Residents should bring their own bags and a shovel. Parks are open daily from dawn to dusk. For more info regarding sand distribution, please call the Public Works Department at 772-467-3794.
Solid Waste Collection
The Solid Waste Division is running additional trucks to pick up existing debris throughout the city in preparation for the storm. The city is asking residents to please refrain from cutting down vegetation or doing major projects until the system passes. Residents should not place any additional debris at the curb as it may block surface stormwater flow.
Street and Drainage Efforts
The Streets and Drainage Division are working hard to ensure the stormwater systems are free of obstructions and operating at full capacity. Emergency Response Teams from Public Works are on standby and ready to act when needed.
Communication
We are committed to keeping our residents safe and informed - all public notices will be provided on the city’s website at www.cityoffortpierce.com, social media channels, and Fort Pierce TV Channel 27. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for St. Lucie County's Alert St. Lucie program to get emergency notifications sent directly to their phone, email, or text: www.stlucieco.gov/Alert