Hurricane Helene officially formed this morning and is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 26, between 8-10 p.m. as a Category 3 hurricane.
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency order for 41 counties yesterday, but the number was increased to include most inland areas, including Orange County. While Central Florida will not experience the most sever impacts, heavy winds and rain can be expected to begin tonight as the storm makes its way north. Tropical storm-force winds and rain will continue through the day tomorrow.
Higher-than-average local rainfall forced the closure of the Winter Park Chain of Lakes from September 9-16. Last year, Winter Park adopted a new guide for the active management of city lake levels that uses seven-day forecasts for advanced preparation for potential storms. According to the guide, storm drain and well intakes on all landlocked lakes and canals within the city’s Chain of Lakes and Howell Creek are being inspected, and the city is coordinating the anticipated removal of fallen tree and debris clearance in creeks and conveyances.
Winter Park residents can pick up sandbags at Rollins Softball Field parking lot, 452 Harper St., until 6 p.m. today. There will be a limit of eight sandbags per resident or owners of businesses within the city limits, and proof of residency (driver’s license, valid ID or utility bill statement) is required. Distribution will follow a fill-it-yourself model with city staff providing shovels, bags and sand on a first-come, first-served basis. Staff will also assist anyone who is physically unable to fill their own sandbags.
Closings
Orange County Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26, with after-school activities on Wednesday, Sept. 25, ending by 6 p.m. Rollins College and Valencia College will also cancel all Thursday classes with plans to reopen on Friday, Sept. 27, pending campus safety checks.
Winter Park Library has announced plans to close on Thursday, as has Winter Park History Museum. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is closed and will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.
Winter Park Playhouse has canceled its performance of “Snapshots,” scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday. Ticket holders will be automatically reassigned to a new performance on Oct. 2. For more information, call 407-645-0145.
City Hall and parks
The September 25 City Commission meeting will still convene at 3:30 p.m., but the September 26 City Commission Workshop and all scheduled board meetings for that day are cancelled.
City Hall and all administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26. Normal business hours and functions will resume Friday, September 27.
Additional City of Winter Park closures for Thursday, Sept. 26:
- The last tee time at the Winter Park 9 will be 11 a.m. The last tee time at Winter Park Pines Golf Club is at 10 a.m. and the driving range will close at noon.
- Showwalter Field will close at noon and the Tennis Center will close at 1 p.m.
- All other city parks and facilities will be closed on Thursday.
City staff will assess the changing weather conditions and post closures as necessary on the city website.
Waste Pro
There will be no Waste Pro service on Thursday, a make-up day has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28. Service on Friday, Sept. 27, will run as usual.
Transportation
According to an announcement from the City of Orlando, SunRail service will be suspended tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 26. Service is expected to resume Friday, Sept. 27, after crews check for damage and obstructions along the rail line. Check the SunRail website for updates.
Emergency information
The list of official City of Winter Park information resources is as follows:
- citEnews email service – cityofwinterpark.org/citEnews
- Facebook – facebook.com/WinterParkEmergencyInfo
- Twitter – twitter.com/WinterParkFla
- Nextdoor – sign up at nextdoor.com
- City’s emergency alert system – sign up at cityofwinterpark.org/outreach.
Other resources include:
- Non-emergency information line 407-599-3494 (live during Emergency Operation Center activation)
- Report electric utility power outages to 1-877-811-8700
- Report water & wastewater utilities outages to 407-599-3219
