SOUTH BREVARD CAUSEWAYS NOW OPEN, TROPICAL STORM WARNING STILL IN EFFECT

Inspectors, officials ensuring bridge integrity

ABOVE VIDEO: Cpl. Dave Jacobs of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department provides an update on storm damage and causeway openings.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Pineda Causeway, Eau Gallie Causeway and Melbourne Causeways have just opened, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department.

As an update on the status of the causeway closures throughout Brevard County, effective immediately, the Pineda Causeway (State Road 404), Eau Gallie Causeway (State Road 518), and Melbourne Causeway (U.S. 192) will be reopened for traffic back onto the barrier island.

The Florida Department of Transportation has released these three causeways only, and are in the process of evaluating the other causeways throughout Brevard County, including the State Road 520 Causeway, the Beachline Expressway Causeway (State Road 528), the NASA Causeway (State Road 405), and the Max Brewer Memorial Parkway (State Road 406).

“At this time, the City of Cocoa Beach is the only area on the barrier island that is not open for evacuees to return,” said Cpl. Dave Jacobs of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department.

‘The City of Cocoa Beach is still in the process of addressing a number of safety hazards.”

Citizens of Cocoa Beach are asked to please remain in place for the time being so the city Police Department and Public Works team can render that area safe.

As the other causeways are cleared by FDOT, we will release them for traffic back onto the barrier island.

Again, to be clear, with the exception of the City of Cocoa Beach, all areas of the barrier island will be accessibly effective immediately through the Pineda Causeway, the Eau Gallie Causeway, and the US 192 Causeway.

“We will update you as soon as additional causeways are opened and on any new developments regarding the storm,” said Cpl. Jacobs.

Inspectors and officials are in the process of ensuring the integrity of Brevard’s other causeways – stay tuned to Space Coast Daily for updates as to when these roadways are opened.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT IN BREVARD COUNTY UNTIL 8 P.M. AS THE HURRICANE WARNING IS CANCELLED.

LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:

BELOW TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND – PEAK WIND FORECAST: 25-35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH – CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: MODERATE – THE WIND THREAT HAS DECREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT. – REMAIN BRACED AGAINST THE REASONABLE THREAT FOR STRONG TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND OF 58 TO 73 MPH. – TO BE SAFE, EFFORTS SHOULD FULLY FOCUS ON PROTECTING LIFE. PROPERTIES REMAIN SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT WIND IMPACTS. – NOW IS THE TIME TO HIDE FROM THE WIND. FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SHELTER MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY, OR IN SOME CASES LOSS OF LIFE. REMAIN SHELTERED UNTIL THE HAZARDOUS WIND SUBSIDES.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS: STILL UNFOLDING – POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT ARE STILL UNFOLDING. – THE EXTENT OF REALIZED IMPACTS WILL DEPEND ON THE ACTUAL STRENGTH, DURATION, AND EXPOSURE OF THE WIND AS EXPERIENCED AT PARTICULAR LOCATIONS. * STORM SURGE – LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE POSSIBLE – PEAK STORM SURGE INUNDATION: THE POTENTIAL FOR 2-4 FEET ABOVE GROUND SOMEWHERE WITHIN SURGE PRONE AREAS – WINDOW OF CONCERN: THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON – CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: MODERATE – THE STORM SURGE THREAT HAS REMAINED NEARLY STEADY FROM THE PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT.

EMERGENCY CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD POSTURE FOR A REASONABLE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS STORM SURGE FLOODING OF GREATER THAN 3 FEET ABOVE GROUND. – TO BE SAFE, EVACUEES SHOULD BE LOCATED WITHIN PRESCRIBED SHELTERS AND WELL AWAY FROM STORM SURGE FLOODING CAPABLE OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. – LIFE THREATENING INUNDATION IS POSSIBLE. THOSE WHO FAILED TO HEED EVACUATION ORDERS RISK SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS: STILL UNFOLDING – POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN SURGE EVENT ARE STILL UNFOLDING. – THE EXTENT OF REALIZED IMPACTS WILL DEPEND ON THE ACTUAL HEIGHT OF STORM SURGE MOVING ONSHORE AND THE RESULTING DEPTH OF COASTAL FLOODING AS EXPERIENCED AT PARTICULAR LOCATIONS. * FLOODING RAIN – LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT – PEAK RAINFALL AMOUNTS: ADDITIONAL AROUND 1 INCH – CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: MODERATE – THE FLOODING RAIN THREAT HAS REMAINED NEARLY STEADY FROM THE PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT. – EMERGENCY CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE A THREAT OF FLOODING.

BE SAFE AND REMAIN READY TO PROTECT AGAINST FLOODING RAIN IMPACTS. – IF FLOOD RELATED WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT, HEED RECOMMENDED ACTIONS. – POTENTIAL IMPACTS: SIGNIFICANT – MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.

RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFT CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND DITCHES WILL OVERFLOW. – FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS. SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS WITH SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.

TORNADO – LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: – SITUATION IS UNFAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES – CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: NONE – THE TORNADO THREAT HAS REMAINED NEARLY STEADY FROM THE PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT. – EMERGENCY CONSIDERATIONS NEED NOT INCLUDE A THREAT FOR TORNADOES. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS MAY STILL OCCUR. – LITTLE TO NO PREPARATIONS NEEDED TO GUARD AGAINST TROPICAL TORNADOES. – ENSURE READINESS FOR THE NEXT TROPICAL TORNADO EVENT. – POTENTIAL IMPACTS: LITTLE TO NONE – LITTLE TO NO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM TORNADOES.

STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR UPDATES

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