FEMA arrives to help flood victims

Posted August 28, 2008

A FEMA Disaster Relief Center is open for homeowners and businesses that have been impacted by Tropical Storm Fay. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily including weekends and the Labor Day holiday.

People needing assistance should call 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 for speech and hearing impaired. The center is located at the St. Lucie County Logistics Center at 3855 South U.S. 1, which is in Fort Pierce north of Midway Rd.

For transportation assistance to the center, call 871-5107. After business hours a recorded message with updates on the FEMA Center will be available at 344-4212.

Other important numbers

Red Cross:	(866) GET-INFO (866) 438-4636
Port St. Lucie Community Services:	(772) 871-5264
St. Lucie County Community Services:	(772) 462-1777

City Council actions

Mayor Patricia P. Christensen and the city’s Public Works Department took a group of high ranking state officials on a tour of the city’s most heavily flooded areas the day after Tropical Storm Fay left the area. Mayor Christensen asked the officials to expedite the permitting process for the city to begin clearing Howard Creek, a critical drainage component in the southeastern Sandpiper neighborhood. Improvements in the flow of Howard Creek would help reduce flooding in that area, particularly on Giffen Avenue.

The tour was followed by a meeting of the full City Council Monday with state officials, the South Florida Water Management District and representative of the St. Lucie West Services District. The Council obtained commitments from the various agencies to begin planning and discussions now to reduce flooding in the future.

Trash pick-up

The city’s trash hauler (Waste Pro) is on regular schedule. For questions, call Waste Pro at 595-9390.

Water and sewer

Customers of the utility who are experiencing a problem with backflowing toilets or bathtubs can call (772) 873-6400. Customers who purchase water and sewer services from the St. Lucie West Services District should call (772) 340-0220.

Swales

Please keep children from playing in flooded swales, which attract fire ants, snakes and other hazards.

School District Administrative offices

Business operations for St. Lucie County Public Schools have been relocated due to extensive damage throughout the district offices facility on Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce. Central office personnel and their department functions will operate indefinitely at the following locations. Complete listings can be found at www.stlucie.k12.fl.us.

For more information, contact:
Ed Cunningham
Communications Director
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5219