Fernandina Beach is grappling with a local state of emergency following a deluge of rain that has wreaked havoc on the city's infrastructure. Mayor Bradley Bean took to Facebook to announce the emergency measures on Thursday, highlighting the "record rainfall," a testament to the severity of the situation that has left the stormwater system overwhelmed, as reported by First Coast News.
The massive amount of water has caused extensive flooding, especially in the downtown area, where homes and businesses are dealing with stormwater flooding the wastewater system. The mayor emphasized that "Our number one priority is your safety, our city team will be working through the night to do as much as we can. Please stay safe." This statement led to the closure of the city’s sports fields to avoid additional damage, according to News4JAX.
Amidst this natural onslaught, which Mayor Bean dubbed as “unprecedented, record rainfall,” the city's response teams are bolstering their efforts, working tirelessly through the night to mitigate the flooding, as shared in the statement obtained by Action News Jax. This state of emergency serves as a signal to state officials, indicating Fernandina Beach's need for assistance during this crisis.
To keep everyone safe, the city has temporarily closed several recreational areas, including Central Park (baseball and football), Ybor Alvarez Complex, Joe Velardi Field, Peck Field, Hickory Street Park Fields, and Charles Albert Field and Practice Fields. City officials apologized for the inconvenience, saying, "However, we must take this action to protect the grounds from sustaining any substantial damage. We will reassess the situation next week. If the weather persists, we may need to continue with the closures." Residents are asked to report any flooding to Nassau County Emergency Management to help with response efforts, as stated by First Coast News.
