In the first two days of operations, St. Lucie County’s Multi-Resource Center (MARC) at the Havert L. Fenn Center assisted approximately 800 residents affected by Hurricane Milton.
Additionally, staff from St. Lucie County’s Multi-Resource Center delivered tarps and ready-to-eat meals (MREs) to affected neighborhoods, including Creekside and Indian River Estates.
The Multi-Resource Center (MARC) is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the Fenn Center, located at 2000 Virginia Ave. in Fort Pierce.
On-site organizations include Hope Navigators, which registers unmet needs, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and the State Emergency Response Team.
Volunteering
Residents wishing to volunteer in relief and recovery efforts in St. Lucie County are asked to call the public information line to provide their contact information.
The public information lines are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 772-460-HELP (4357).
Closures
St. Lucie County offices, attractions, and libraries are open for normal operations.
However, library programs such as storytime have been suspended until Sunday, October 20, as library staff are assisting with relief efforts and public information lines.
Additionally, recreation programs at the Fenn Center have been canceled for the week, as the site is being used for disaster relief operations.
All St. Lucie County parks remain closed until further notice, as many sites are flooded and trails have downed trees.
St. Lucie County parks are open with the exception of the following:
White City Park, 2081 W Midway Road, Fort Pierce
Blind Creek Beach, 5460 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
Walton Rocks Beach / Dog Park, 6700 S Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
St. Lucie County Ocean Rescue lifeguards are back on duty. Residents are advised to exercise caution and swim at beaches with lifeguards: Pepper Park Beach, 3375 N Hwy A1A on North Hutchinson Island, and Waveland Beach, 10350 S Ocean Drive on South Hutchinson Island.
Residents can stay informed by calling the beach conditions hotline at 772-462-1421.
Debris Collection
Outside contractors have begun collecting debris in the hardest-hit areas of the county. Contractors will make at least two passes throughout the county to collect vegetative debris. Once the collection schedule is finalized, routes and locations will be shared with the public and posted online.
Residents and businesses are reminded that it is important to separate storm debris into five categories:
1. Regular household trash: Regular household waste and recyclable materials will not be collected with storm debris. Follow your regular trash collection schedule.
2. Vegetative waste: This includes vegetation such as leaves, logs, plants, and tree branches. Do NOT place yard waste in bags.
3. Construction and demolition waste: This category includes cabinets, countertops, doors, drywall, lumber, roofing and shingles, window tiles, wood siding, and vanities.
4. Bulky waste: Items such as carpets, furniture, mattresses, plastic/PVC pipes, privacy fences, vinyl siding, and pressure-treated wood.
5. Appliances and white goods: This category includes air conditioners, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators (remember to dispose of food waste with household trash), stoves, washers and dryers, and water heaters.
Businesses with the proper staff and equipment wishing to assist with debris removal should email Solid Waste staff at solidwaste@stlucieco.org.
Damage
More than 100 homes and businesses sustained major damage, and over 300 reported minor damage from Hurricane Milton in unincorporated areas (outside city limits).
Residents are encouraged to help document damage caused by Hurricane Milton through the county’s self-reporting system: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/e5d5cb7556f2464787f6e94e38c664da.
St. Lucie County reminds residents and businesses that unlicensed contractors from outside the area will seek out those looking for quick repairs. To avoid being taken advantage of or facing repairs or fines the homeowner may have to pay:
Always hire a Florida-licensed contractor
Get at least three written quotes for any job
Never pay more than a 10 percent deposit
To verify a license, residents can visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com and click on verify a license or email St. Lucie County’s Contractor Licensing Division at johnsonrox@stlucieco.org.
The current death toll in St. Lucie County from Hurricane Milton is six.
The hardest-hit areas include:
Spanish Lakes Country Club Village
Portofino Shores
Holiday Pines
Lakewood Park
South Florida Logistics Center 95
Sunnier Palms Park and Campground
St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Garage
St. Lucie County’s public information lines (772-460-HELP (4357) will remain open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice. Additional information can be found at www.stlucieco.gov and on St. Lucie County’s social media channels @Stluciegov.
Image: Fenn Center
