Hurricane Irma (Sept.11): Delray Beach

By Jane Smith

In Delray Beach, Andy Katz just returned to his barrier island home this morning. He does not have power, but he has food, water and a small generator that powers a limited number of items. His refrigerator is plugged into it to keep the items cold.
His home lost some gutters on the eastern side of his house.
"Sand is everywhere," said Katz, a retired astronomer, "along with water intrusion."

"We fared OK," said Cary Glickstein, Delray Beach mayor.
"I am very pleased with how staff handled pre, during and post storm activities."
The city had lots of tree damage and downed power lines, but no serious injuries.

"We are still assessing city facilities for possible storm damage," Glickstein said.

Delray Beach has a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

The city is restricting access to the barrier island to only residents. They must show an ID with a Barrier island address to cross the bridges.
Crews are working to remove fallen power lines, clear debris and remove other hazards, the city said.
The city also asks its water customers in Delray Beach and Highland Beach to use tap water for drinking only.
The storm-related power failures have affected 70 percent of the city's sewage pumping stations, the city statement said.
The non-uses include bathing, toilet flushing, dish washing and running any kind of water that goes down a drain or into a toilet. 
This public health measure is necessary in order to prevent sewage backups into homes. Officials stress that the drinking water is safe to drink. This is in effect immediately and until further notice.
Many traffic lights are inoperable, and we have had received multiple reports of crashes this morning because of speeding drivers and drivers not knowing what to do at intersections where the lights don't work. 
Delray Beach police give this advice:
  1 - Treat each traffic light as a four-way stop, with the driver on the right having the right-of-way. 
  2 - Enter intersections only when it is safe, using turn signals to let other motorists know your intentions. 
  3 - Watch out for and obey police officers directing traffic within intersections.

Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County - HURRICANE IRMA UPDATE 4 Sept. 11, 2017 at 5:15 p.m.

Contact: Willie Puz, Public Affairs and Recycling, 561-640-8914 (o); 561-379-2405 (c)

 Garbage collection resumes in PBC; SWA urges residents to separate waste piles

 With the storm now passed, most Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County collection facilities will be open and accepting waste. Garbage collection will resume in unincorporated parts of the county as of 6 a.m. Tuesday (Sept 12).

 

However, recycling collection and vegetation collection WILL NOT resume as normal. The SWA’s Recovered Materials Processing Facility is without power and cannot process any recyclables that come in. The SWA will advise the public and the haulers when we are able to receive recyclables.

 

So that means Garbage Only collection until further notice.

 

The SWA’s transfer stations, the landfill and the waste-to-energy facilities will be open regular business hours tomorrow, Sept. 12. Municipalities are advised to seek the advice of their debris management consultants prior to delivering vegetation/storm debris to the SWA’s facilities, as doing so may complicate FEMA reimbursement.

 

The SWA is in the process of setting up Temporary Debris Management Sites for the receipt and processing of storm debris for municipalities and debris contractors. These sites are not available to the general public. The SWA will provide regular updates on the status of the opening of these sites.

 

All residents can help clean up our community by placing their waste and debris in three separate piles at the curb:

 

1.    Put garbage and recyclables out by 6 a.m. on your regularly scheduled day. These will be picked up first.

 

2.    Put all vegetation only in a second pile.

 

3.    And, put all other construction storm debris in a third pile.

 

Be sure to keep these three piles separate and away from:

 

•         Fences

 

•         Mailboxes

 

•         Power line equipment, poles, transformers, downed electrical wiring

 

•         Water meters

 

•         Fire hydrants or

 

•         Storm drains

 

(Watch the SWA commercial on separating your waste piles - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3DidlwGeVYU64&d=DwIF-g&c=JMJxdiofvjJKeebMXBrIn8vDKQGaIrsQQJbzDQHviG0&r=6b9rMWcU-VZUcMHYJ2y1QcUjyDIgbntmkrh1dpgchCg&m=pvmbZZPWsacJrrS7JaEYY0C7vLfT1Ef983qo0MfiKXM&s=Wwe9z4-Gj3mEpMaPglWfX8NiqdIMaw2Gf3vVouLjZN0&e= )

 

There is no rush for residents to get all their storm debris to the curb. Debris collection vehicles will begin collecting debris later this week and will make multiple passes until all debris is picked up.

 

The SWA urges all residents to be patient as collection efforts resume. It may be weeks before the first collection of vegetation and construction storm debris reaches everyone.

 

Visit SWA.org/Hurricane for more information.

 

NOTE: There will be no reimbursement provided to any individual resident or homeowner association who hires a private contractor to remove and dispose of their vegetation and construction storm-related debris.

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