Port St. Lucie - Wednesday September 28, 2022: In preparation and response to Hurricane Ian, the Port St. Lucie City Council declared a local state of emergency Wednesday, Sept. 28. The declaration provides the City with more flexibility regarding expenditures and allocating resources, which may be necessary for localized street flooding, and the potential for wind damage caused by strong wind gusts and tornadoes.
Stay connected: For up-to-the-minute updates, please check the City’s dedicated website www.CityofPSL.com/Ian. This site will include updates on closures, information about drainage and utilities, trash collection, City events and more. Residents are also encouraged to follow the City’s social media sites, including Facebook @CityofPSL, Twitter @CityPortStLucie and NextDoor page, as information changes quickly. Residents can also sign up to receive text messages or emails from the City.
Solid waste collection: Solid waste services are suspended for Wednesday, Sept. 28.
· A determination on whether Wednesday services will resume Thursday will be made once officials can assess the overnight impacts of Hurricane Ian.
· If services can resume Thursday, FCC crews will start with Wednesday customers until those routes are complete.
· Thursday customers would likely receive service Friday, with this pattern continuing through the weekend until all routes can be back on track.
Residents are asked not to place garbage and recycling carts curbside and secure them. Place the containers in a secure location away from the curb, if possible, inside a garage. Also, please refrain from all yard maintenance and tree-trimming activities. For information on your scheduled collection day, visit www.CityofPSL.com/SolidWaste.
Public Works: As of 11 a.m., localized flooding has been identified in these areas:
· Savona & California (closed to traffic)
· Thornhill & Brisbane
· Thornhill & Burlington
· Thornhill & Victor
· Thornhill & Sylvester
· Airoso & Pisces
Please avoid those intersections.
Police Department: PSLPD has activated 13-hour Alpha/Bravo shifts to provide increased police coverage to help protect the community during Hurricane Ian.
Parks & Recreation: Due to wet conditions, all park and field reservations have been canceled within City parks, effective, Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Thursday, Sept. 29. On Friday, Sept. 30, the City will re-evaluate the condition of the fields and will determine at that time whether to re-open to the public.
The Community Center and Community Fitness & Wellness Center, the MIDFLORIDA Event Center Recreation & Humana Fitness & Wellness Center, Minsky Gym, all City parks (including McCarty Ranch Preserve) and The Saints Golf Course are closed to the public Wednesday, Sept. 28. Weekend events are still scheduled and plan to go forward.
C-24 Canal and Oak Hammock parks and Veterans Park @ Rivergate are closed to the public, however, the boat ramps in each park remain open until further notice.
MIDFLORIDA Event Center: The MIDFLORIDA Event Center will be closed to the public Wednesday, Sept. 28. Weekend events are still scheduled and plan to go forward.
Utility Systems customers: Residents can drink City water. Avoid the long lines to purchase water and save money, too, by filling up containers with tap water. PSL’s water is treated by reverse osmosis and purified with minerals, like many bottled waters on the market. Here’s a link to more information about storm preparation and recovery: https://utility.cityofpsl.com/get-connected/divisions/connection-support-billing/storm-preparation-recovery/
If you experience a power outage, the City recommends customers conserve water during a power outage, not because there will be a shortage of water, but because water going down the drain or toilet will quickly fill up your grinder or STEP tank. Without power, the wastewater cannot be pumped out of the tank. If a resident is experiencing any issues with their service, call Utility Systems Connection Support at 772-873-6400.
Stormwater and swales: In preparation of potential heavy rain, residents are asked to keep swales clean of debris such as overgrown grass and leaf litter. A swale liner is placed at the bottom of the swale to help move stormwater flowing through the system. Learn more about what to expect with our swale and drainage system at www.CityofPSL.com/Swale.
1PSL/Hotlines: Residents can contact the City through our 1PSL customer service system at 772-871-1775 or through the 1PSL app. St. Lucie County’s EOC hotline is 772-460-HELP.