Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fort Pierce declares state of emergency as city prepares for Hurricane Milton
Summary
City officials declared a state of emergency Oct. 7 and outlined pre‑landfall preparations — sandbag distribution, lift‑station checks, shelter openings and bridge‑closure thresholds — as the National Hurricane Center tracked Hurricane Milton toward Florida.
The Fort Pierce City Commission declared a state of emergency Oct. 7 as city officials accelerated preparations ahead of Hurricane Milton, a powerful storm forecast to approach Florida this week.
Mayor Linda Hudson and City Manager Miss Cox said the emergency declaration — which the mayor was preparing to sign and staff will file with the clerk — enables the city to apply for FEMA assistance if needed. Deputy Chief Bridal briefed the commission on likely local impacts, advising residents to prepare for sustained winds in the mid‑20s to mid‑30s, gusts in excess of 55 mph in some models and 4–6 inches of rainfall locally.
“Right now the National Hurricane Center is forecasting it to come on board around Tampa … It’s going to knock it down to a category 3,” Deputy Chief Bridal said, while adding that local models and briefings showed some variance in gust forecasts. He said the county had issued a tropical storm watch for the area and that the city would close offices Wednesday and Thursday in coordination with St. Lucie County.
The city announced several operational measures: sand distribution at five locations (Dreamland Park, JC Park, Pioneer Park, Little Jim Bridal Island, and Marivella Park); Public Works checks of lift stations, pumps and stormwater infrastructure; and confirmation that Treasure Coast High School and Westwood would serve as shelters (including pet‑friendly shelters) and that the Fence Center would be a special‑needs shelter. Staff confirmed municipal offices would be closed in step with county action.
Deputy Chief Bridal detailed the local bridge‑closure policy: the drawbridge will close when sustained winds reach about 40 mph and reopen after an hour of winds falling to around 25 mph. “The bridge closes when we hit sustained winds around 40 miles an hour,” he said.
Commissioners asked operational and communications questions. Commissioner Jay Johnson asked whether utilities and mutual‑aid arrangements were secure; staff and the utility partner reported that the utility authority was at readiness but that mutual aid could be limited given the storm’s size. City Manager Miss Cox said crews had staged supplies and that sandbag stockpiles had already required replenishment.
The commission urged residents to secure debris now, not wait until the last minute, and to accommodate pets in emergency plans. Mayor Hudson closed the meeting after encouraging residents to follow city social media and official channels for shelter and opening updates.
What’s next: The declaration is effective immediately and staff said they will file for FEMA assistance if required; the commission will receive further briefings and updates as forecasts evolve.
