CLOSURES AND OTHER INFORMATION

Posted Monday, August 28, 2023 12:00 am

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia, St. Johns County is announcing updates to services for residents.

Government Offices

All St. Johns County government offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
All City of St. Augustine government offices will close on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 3 p.m. and remain closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
All City of St. Augustine Beach government offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Residential Waste Collection Service

St. Johns County will suspend household garbage, recycling and yard debris collection schedules on Wednesday, Aug. 30, with normal service resuming Thursday, Aug. 31.
Residents originally scheduled for Wednesday collection will have service on Saturday, Sept. 2.
The Tillman Ridge and Stratton Road Transfer Stations will also be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
The City of St. Augustine garbage collection will remain on schedule on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
The City of St. Augustine will not collect yard debris on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
The City of St. Augustine will not collect residential recycling on Thursday, Aug. 31, and Friday, Sept. 1.

Public Library System

All St. Johns County libraries, bookmobiles and book drops will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Due dates will be extended, and fines will not be incurred during the closure.

Parks and Beach Services

All St. Johns County Parks and Recreation parks and facilities will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30. This includes the St. Johns Golf Club, beachfront parks and beach walkovers.
Beach driving will be closed to the public beginning at noon Tuesday, Aug. 29, for the duration of the storm.
The St. Johns County Pier will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, for the duration of the storm. Barricades will be in place.

Schools

All St. Johns County School District schools and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30, due to the impending storm.
Schools and district offices will operate as normal tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 29, including Extended Day Programs.
Scheduled afterschool, athletic, and extracurricular activities will be canceled Tuesday, Aug. 29, through Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Council on Aging and Sunshine Bus Service

Johns County Council on Aging (COA) has announced that all Sunshine Bus and Paratransit transportation services will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Transportation facilities and customer service will also be closed.
In addition, all Paratransit transportation services will be limited to life-sustaining services on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Thursday, Aug. 31.
For more information on the Sunshine Bus Service, go to www.sunshinebus.net/alerts-updates or call 904-209-3716 during operating hours.
All COA senior centers and facilities, including River House, Sunshine Center, COA headquarters, and scheduled IMEP programs, will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30, and Thursday, Aug. 31.
For more information on the COA, go to http://www.coasjc.org/news or call 904-209-3700.

Stay informed

St. Johns County Emergency Management encourages the public to stay informed through these options:

Sign up for the Alert St. Johns emergency notification system at www.sjcemergencymanagement.com
Register for Nixle Alerts by texting StJohnsEOC to 888777
Monitor www.sjcfl.us/hurricane for all storm-related updates
Call the St. Johns County Emergency Management Citizen Information Line at 904-824-5550 with any storm-related questions

OTHER CLOSURES

Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine is praying for the safety and well-being of all individuals who are in the path of the storm. He is closing all diocesan offices and Catholic schools on Wednesday, Aug. 30, and potentially Thursday, Aug. 31, due to Tropical Storm Idalia. Catholic School Closures: St. Francis Catholic Academy, Queen of Peace Academy, St. Patrick Interparish School and St. Anne Early Learning Center in Gainesville and Epiphany Catholic School in Lake City will have early dismissal on Tuesday, Aug. 29. All other Catholic schools will cancel afternoon activities on Tuesday and close on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Once the storm clears, building facilities will be evaluated before students and faculty can return to class. Updates will be available by going to www.dosaeducation.org and the Parent Alert System.
Duval County Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. This closure includes all school operations, afterschool activities, athletics and other extracurricular activities. No decision has been made at this time for Friday.
In anticipation of Hurricane Idalia’s path through Florida, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens will be closed to the public on Tuesday, August 29, and will remain closed until the area is clear of the storm. The museum will post operational updates and reopening plans at its website (cummermuseum.org) and on social media @cummermuseum.
MOCA Jacksonville will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30, due to Tropical Storm Idalia. It will reopen after staff is able to complete a post-storm evaluation of potential damage, which will take place once the storm has passed, and local authorities lift any restrictions on the downtown area. All programs and events during this time are canceled until the storm has passed and assessments can be completed.
Argyle, the new restaurant at The Yards, will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30, due to Hurricane Idalia. It will reopen on Thursday for lunch at 11 a.m.

JACKSONVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY

The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) is seeking families who can temporarily care for dogs and cats while Hurricane Idalia passes. These families would host a dog or cat for a sleepover until at least Friday, Sept. 1. Those interested are asked to stop by JHS, 8464 Beach Blvd., anytime during our open hours of noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, to pick up a pet. Depending on the path of Hurricane Idalia, JHS may be open on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Check the JHS website and JHS social media channels (@jaxhumane) for additional information.

JTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s (JTA) top priority remains the safety and wellbeing of all customers and employees as we prepare for potential local impacts of Tropical Storm Idalia. As of this release, the following service updates will be in effect. All JTA services will be in operation, with the exception of the St. Johns River Ferry (closed on 8/29), on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

Status of Service

JTA Bus Routes – SUSPENDED beginning 8/30
Johns River Ferry – SUSPENDED beginning 8/29
ReadiRide – SUSPENDED beginning 8/30
Express Select – SUSPENDED beginning 8/30
Skyway – SUSPENDED beginning 8/30
Paratransit – SUSPENDED beginning 8/30
Administrative Offices – SUSPENDED beginning 8/30

St. Johns River Ferry

Service for the St. Johns River Ferry will be suspended indefinitely beginning Tuesday, August 29. The vessel will be transported to a secure location until conditions allow for service resumption.

JTA Fixed Routes/ First Coast Flyer / ReadiRide / Express Select / Skyway/Connexion

JTA plans for normal service operations for Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
JTA Fixed Bus Routes, the First Coast Flyer, ReadiRide, Express Select, and Skyway services will be suspended beginning Wednesday, August 30.
Additionally, JTA will suspend all transportation services if and when sustained winds reach 35 miles per hour and will cease crossing major bridges in accordance with the instructions of law enforcement officials.
Service is expected to resume on Thursday, August 31, depending on the severity of the storm and road conditions throughout Jacksonville.

JTA Administrative Offices

JTA Administrative offices will close at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, and will remain closed on Wednesday, August 30.
Offices are expected to open on Thursday, August 31, depending on the severity of the storm.
JTA Customer Service
JTA Customer Service will remain open during normal business hours, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Customer Service team at (904) 630-3100.
The JTA will provide regular updates through media advisories. All service alerts and detours are also visible through the JTA’s social media feeds, and the JTA website at https://www.jtafla.com/media-center/service-alerts/tropical-storm-idalia-updates/.
Copies of the JTA’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide can be found at https://www.jtafla.com/severeweather.

IQ FIBER SERVICE TO REMAIN OPERATIONAL

IQ Fiber is monitoring and preparing for the impacts of Idalia and has activated its emergency preparedness plan. Its local customer service will remain open during and through the storm.

IQ Fiber will continue construction activities as long as it is safe to do so but will secure all construction sites prior to the storm’s arrival. Preparations include removing construction materials and ensuring resources are in place to respond after the storm.

IQ Fiber operates 100% free, public outdoor high-speed Wi-Fi for anyone to use in Atlantic Beach at three parks – Jack Russell Park, Jordan Park and Community Center, and Donner Park and Gail Baker Community Center. As long as the City of Atlantic Beach deems that it’s safe to be in the parks, these fiber-optic networks can provide connectivity for our neighbors if their homes lose power/internet.