Friday updates:
A mandatory evacuation is in effect for Good Samaritan, which is experiencing flooding from Shingle Creek on the same magnitude as in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. Sheriff Marcos Lopez said it will be a misdemeanor to stay, and since the water in that community is "not doing down anytime soon," deputies will be doing a door-to-door assessment to get them out. Residents without family in the area will be taken to a shelter.
Water levels on Boggy, Shingle and Reedy creeks, which flow down from Orange County, are expected to rise another foot before cresting.
"It's the highest water level ever seen in my lifetime," said County Commission Chairman (and lifelong resident) Brandon Arrington. "If you have medical issues, take this opportunity to get out now."
He also noted that the Kissimmee River floodgates are open to send more water south. Parts of northwestern and central Osceola County received 15 inches of rain over 32 hours. The National Weather Service measured a wind gust of 70 mph early Thursday, the highest in the county.
Schools will still be closed Monday, as many roads are still not passable for buses.
Closed roads: Local streets like Osceola Parkway east of Florida's Turnpike, and Kings Highway south of West Virginia Lane, are closed due to flooding and vehicles getting stuck. Osceola County has an interactive map of closures and flooding incidents. Go to www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/emergency-management/hurricane-center and click the green "Road Closures Map" button.
No SunRail: The county reported that, due to track issues, SunRail service to Osceola County will be out for weels. Lynx is offering bridge bus services from the Kissimmee and Poinciana stations to the Meadow Woods station on Orange Avenue near Tupperware.
Utilities: About 5,600 residents are without power across the three providers (KUA, OUC, Duke) servicing the county. Many are in flooded areas where electric crews still can't make assessments due to the high water. Toho Water is reporting no water outages or boil water mandates.
In St.Cloud: Clam truck fees are being waived, and solid waste collection restarted today.
Thursday night, Gov. Ron DeSantis added Osceola to the list of counties that are eligible for FEMA storm relief. Go to www.disasterassitance.gov. Emergency Management Director Bill Litton said a federal assistance team has been onsite in the county.
Donations: The county's ongoing disaster relief fund site, OsceolaReady.org, is accepting monetary donations. The county is also working with Volunteer Florida in order to work with those who want to help.
The city of Kissimmee curfew in place Thursday night has been canceled.
The Silver Spurs' Boots, Bulls and Barrels rodeo event scheduled for Saturday has been postponed, with a new date TBA. The Silver Spurs Riding Club is cooking some of the concession food expected to be served at it to take to first responders and the few hundred people still in shelters, mostly those in flooded neighborhoods.*-
FLOODED ROADS: Osceola Parkway is closed from Michigan Street to White Birch Circle. Many residential streets in BVL are flooded — some are impassible. Buenaventura Boulevard is flooded in spots, but passable (slowly). Those on Florida's Turnpike cannot exit at Osceola Parkway, get off at State Road 417 to the north or U.S. 192 to the south.
LYNX BUS SERVICE: Osceola County routes currently running service are Links 10, 26, 55, 56 and 306.
CITY OF KISSIMMEE UPDATES:
Debris Collection and Solid Waste Services
- Routine solid waste collection will resume their regular schedule starting on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.
- Debris removal operations for flooded areas will have priority. Costs for debris and bulk pick-up have been waived for City of Kissimmee residents at this time.
Residents must follow these guidelines for debris and bulk removal:
- Separate tree and organic debris from any construction debris. Household waste and recycling materials should be placed in their normal containers.
- Place debris as close to the road but not on the road.
- Don’t place any debris or garbage next to mailboxes or fire hydrants.
Development Services
- The permitting office will open on Monday, October 3. Permit fees for recovery efforts will be waived until further notice.
- Development Services Department extends the renewal of the Business Tax Receipt (BTR) until Oct. 31, 2022, without fees or penalties. Businesses are encouraged to apply on-line for their BTR renewal by visiting Kissimmee.gov
- From UF/IFAS: One of the biggest things you have to worry about is any perishable food you’re storing in your freezer or refrigerator being in the “danger zone” — above 40 degrees Fahrenheit — for too long. The more time spent in that zone, the greater the chance of food spoiling. Once the inside of your fridge goes above 40 degrees, the “danger zone,” you typically you have about 4 hours before food starts to spoil. Freezers take longer to reach the “danger zone,” usually about 48 hours. “When in doubt, throw it out.” This is also why having an ample supply of non-perishable foods on hand is so important, especially if your power is out for an extended period of time. Transferring your perishable foods to a cooler with ice once the power goes out is a good idea.
