Apopka Proud Weekly Special Edition Hurricane Season 2022

September 27, 2022

Hurricane Ian

The City of Apopka continues to monitor the track of Hurricane Ian. Continue to visit our Hurricane Page.

Office Closures

Apopka City Hall, Utility Billing, Fran Carlton Center, Billie Dean Community Center and all other administrative offices will close 12 PM on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 and will remain closed Thursday, September 29, 2022. Offices will reopen on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 8 AM.

Please Note: Police, Medical, and Fire services will continue to operate.

Sanitation Schedule

Garbage services will not be operational on Thursday, September 29, 2022, during the storm. We will provide further notifications later in the week regarding when services will resume.

Sandbags

The City will continue to have sandbags available until NOON on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at Edwards Field (behind Kit Land Nelson Park).

Hours of Operations are:

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 from 7 AM to 7 PM
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 from 7 AM to 12 PM

Shelters

Apopka High School, 555 Martin St, Apopka, FL 32712, will be a general population and pet-friendly shelter starting on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 8 AM for people living in low-lying areas and mobile homes that need shelter from the storm. It will remain operational until the storm is over.

Homeless Shelter: First United Methodist Church of Apopka, 201 S Park Ave, Apopka, FL 32703, will be a homeless shelter starting on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 7 PM.

For special need shelters, please call 311 or monitor Orange County Government’s website for more information.

Important Phone Numbers

Phone Line Opens on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 8 AM
For Non-Emergency issues within the City of Apopka such as traffic lights out, tree limbs blocking the road, flooding, waste water back up, etc. please contact:
City of Apopka’s nonemergency line 407-703-1850.
Dial 911 for life-threatening emergency assistance.
Dial 311 for Orange County’s Non-Emergency line.
Dial 407-703-1757 for general City non-emergency number
Dial 800-228-8485 for Duke Energy to report outage or fallen power lines.
Dial 407-656-2734 for Lake Apopka Gas to report problems with a gas line.
Dial 407-317-3200 for Orange County Public Schools for information on school closures

Important Websites

Visit our Hurricane Preparedness page for resources, updates, safety tips, and City information.
Residents can track the storm on the National Weather Service Forecast page.
Orange County Government will also be providing updates on Hurricane Ian.
Additional Orange County Resources are available on the Emergency Information page.

Tip 1: Build An Emergency Kit

Assemble a disaster needs kit with the following items:

Battery Powered Radio
Books, games, puzzles or other activities for kids
Bottled Water
Cash or traveler’s checks and change
Emergency information from the Ready Gov page.
Extra Batteries
Family Emergency Plan
First Aid Kit and medications
Flashlights and extra batteries
Fully Charged Cell Phones and charger
Gas for a Home Generator
Important Documents in a Water Proof Container
Non-Electric Can Opener
Non-Perishable Packaged Food
Paper & pen or pencil
Pet Care Items
Special Items for Infants and the Elderly
Vehicle Fuel Tanks Filled

Be sure to have at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation. For food, at least a three day supply.

Ready has provided information on how to build a kit.

Tip 2: Prepare Your Home

Bring in loose outdoor items such as patio furniture. They can blow around and cause damage to homes.
Secure all doors on your property. Remember that the garage door is usually the most vulnerable.
Move your car inside a garage or to another secure location.
Bring in your garbage and recycling can inside.

View additional tips and checklist at that National Weather Service's Hurricane page.

City of Apopka Stay Informed and Connected

Tip 3: Stay Informed & Connected

Sign up for Emergency Management Alerts on our website to receive email and text messages about upcoming storms.
We encourage residents to also follow the City of Apopka social media. For a complete list of social media sites, please visit our Social Media page.
Countywide updates regarding shelters, re-openings, and other important information will be distributed by Orange County on their website, Orange County FL Twitter page, and Orange County Florida Government Facebook page.

Tip 4: Make An Emergency Plan

Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do after the storm. Include it in your emergency kit.

Ready has provided a Family Emergency Plan (PDF) to help create your plan.

Tip 5: Staying Safe: Shelters

Orange County provides general population shelters for Central Floridians who have been evacuated from their homes, live in low-lying areas, and for all others seeking shelter from a storm. Shelters are alcohol, drug and weapon free. Individuals should come prepared with supplies. For location and openings of shelters, please visit Orange County’s website.
Residents who require a Special Needs/Medical Shelter are urged to contact Orange County by dialing 3-1-1 or 407-836-3111 to ensure that they have the necessary access to resources and transportation before a storm arrives.
Available apps: Locate Shelters using the FEMA app and the OCFL Alert app.

After A Storm

The City will continue to notify our residents about important information on our Hurricane Page and Alert Center.

Debris After the Storm

We ask for your patience. After a storm has passed, our first priority is to clear roadways to allow safe passage through our community.

Depending on the severity and amount of damage caused by the storm, the City may employ contractors to assist with removing excess debris following the storm. Please monitor our website for any updates on the schedules for garbage, recycling, yard trash, and bulk pickup.

Visit our Storm Waste Collection page for additional information.

Preventing Crimes

In times of devastation, looting seems to be one of the most common issues faced globally. This type of crime can be prevented by taking simple precautionary steps, such as locking away items of value and keeping your home and car doors locked at all times.
During a state of emergency, it is important to come together as a community. With this in mind, we also encourage you to follow these tips from the Apopka Police Department:

Work together with your neighbors and help each other keep an eye on homes throughout the storm.
Secure your valuables by locking the doors to your home, business, and vehicles. Criminals will look for easy opportunity crimes before and after a storm. If you plan on leaving your home, take important paperwork such as birth certificates and bank documents with you.
Don’t announce your hurricane preparation plans on social media. There is no need to alert potential criminals if you are leaving your home.
Report price gouging to the Florida Attorney General.
Verify and research charity requests at Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Give Alliance page.

Traffic Safety

When traffic signals are not working, intersections should be treated as four-way stops.

Be sure to follow our alerts for additional curfews and road closures.

Additional Resources

Stay Connected and Follow the City of Apopka on Social Media

Visit our Notify Me Sign-up page to update your email address, unsubscribe, or sign up for additional City alerts. You are receiving this special edition newsletter due to the Notify Me lists you have previously subscribed to.

Don't forget to add listserv@civicplus.com to your safe sender/address book to ensure your weekly edition is delivered.