City of Palm Bay Declares a Local State of Emergency Due to Hurricane Ian

By  //  September 27, 2022

In anticipation of Hurricane Ian’s approach towards Florida, with weather impacts to Palm Bay expected, Mayor Rob Medina signed Legislative Order No. D-2022-01, declaring a local state of emergency for the City of Palm Bay.

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – In anticipation of Hurricane Ian’s approach towards Florida, with weather impacts to Palm Bay expected, Mayor Rob Medina signed Legislative Order No. D-2022-01, declaring a local state of emergency for the City of Palm Bay.

A local state of emergency is declared in advance of a potential disaster and enables the City of Palm Bay to expedite procurement processes to obtain critical goods and services and to readily seek response or recovery assistance from the state of Florida to address municipal needs.

City Manager Suzanne Sherman announced the closure of City facilities starting at 2 PM today, September 27, 2022 and remain closed through Wednesday and Thursday, September 28 and 29.

The City will continue to monitor the storm and re-evaluate any additional closures, if necessary.

Impacts to east central Florida are expected to begin as early as tonight, with flooding rain, tropical storm force winds, and tornados as the main threats. Please be sure to monitor updates from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service in Melbourne for the latest storm information.

With Hurricane Ian approaching the west coast of Florida, residents are urged to make necessary storm preparations.

The City of Palm Bay reminds residents that home preparations should be completed before elevated winds arrive as Hurricane Ian approaches. Please be sure to secure any outdoor furniture, décor, or yard trimmings that may cause damage or block storm drains during the storm.

Citizens should be prepared to shelter in place for the duration of the storm and refrain from driving on roadways until conditions improve and roads are cleared of debris.

The City of Palm Bay is working closely with Brevard County Emergency Management to coordinate emergency response efforts.

At this time, no evacuation orders have been announced for Brevard County. Sandbags will be available on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, from 8 AM – 6 PM at Eastern Florida State College’s Palm Bay Campus, located at 250 Community College Parkway SE. Quantities will be limited to 10 sandbags per vehicle.

The City of Palm Bay will maintain essential operations throughout the storm.

The City’s first responders in the Police and Fire Departments have adopted emergency protocols. The City’s municipal infrastructure, including the water treatment plants, will be monitored during the storm. Following the storm, City officials will assess the situation and issue the ‘all clear’ when appropriate.

“Now is the time to prepare your home, prepare your family, have a plan in place, and moreover take time to pray for our state and our city,” said Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina.

We will get through this together. City staff is working diligently to keep all residents safe and informed. Remember – plan, don’t panic, and please consider others more than yourself. A little preparation now goes a long way in preventing stress and worry when the storm is approaching. Now let’s stay safe, stay connected, and stay ready! May God bless you, and may God continue to bless Palm Bay.”

Stay informed by signing up for emergency notifications through Alert Brevard. Text BREVARDEOC to 888777 to get updates and emergency alerts from Brevard County Emergency Management. For hurricane preparation guides and resources, visit the City’s Hurricane Preparedness page at www.pbfl.org/hurricane. Updates will also be provided through the information hotline at (321) 726-5683.