Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Hurricane Debby was a long time coming. She first formed as a tropical wave in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, July 26. At what felt like a crawl, she began developing for days moving North towards the Caribbean Islands. Ohn Friday, Aug. 2, she became Tropical Depression Four. Late Saturday, Aug. 3, she strengthened to Tropical Storm Debby near the southeast Gulf of Mexico. Finally, on Sunday, Aug. 4, at 11 p.m., Debby became a hurricane, making landfall the morning of Monday, Aug. 5. Winds were between 60 and 70 miles per hour, and some places in Florida received up to 13 inches of rainfall. According to weather.com, “The highest level flood alerts were issued in North Florida's Baker, Columbia, Hamilton and Suwannee Counties. Flood water entered homes and other structures throughout Suwannee County.” Suwannee County has ordered comfort stations from the state that will be delivered soon. This includes comfort stations which will provide bathroom and shower facilities. Closed roads in Live Oak as of press time are US Highway 129 North from Winderweedle Street to Duval Street, US Highway 90 East from Mussey Avenue to Railroad Avenue, Duval Street at Mussey Avenue, US Highway 90 West at Goldkist Boulevard, US Highway 90 West from US Highway 129 to Houston Avenue, US Highway 90 from Houston Avenue to Walker Avenue, Walker Avenue south of the roundabout, Tara Trace, 2nd Street from Walker Avenue to 1809 2nd St.; Helveston Street from Railroad Avenue to US Highway 129 South, Georgia Avenue north of Duval Street, Lee Avenue from Duval Street to Bryson Street, 5th Street at Taylor Avenue, Madison Street between Horne Avenue and Dollar General, Walker Avenue at Silas Drive and Riverside Elementary School. On top of that, the following residential roadways have closures: Nabor Avenue, Park Street, Colonial Street, Marymac Street, Myrtle Street, White Avenue, Westmoreland Street, Vanburen Street, Padgett Avenue, 8th Street, Ruby Street, Lake Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Manor Manner, Euclid Street and Cottage Avenue.
Hamilton County has released a list of road closures, including: Camp Avenue at the curve in White Springs, US Highway 6 East just five and a half miles from Jasper, Oak/Georgia Street in Jennings, US Highway 152 north of Jennings GP, US Highway 152 one mile north of 18th Trail in Jennings, 12th Trail in Jasper, County Roads 132 and 25A in White Springs, US Highway 129 North at the Georgia line in Jennings, US Highway 129 North just outside of Jasper, US Highway 41 and Gateway Road in Jennings, US Highway 152 and Northwest 22nd Avenue in Jennings, State Road 6 West and 14th Trail in Jasper, 38th Street in Jasper, 1st Avenue Northwest at 4th Street Northwest in White Springs, 2984 NW US Hwy 129 in Jasper, Northwest 16th Avenue, 66691 CR 158; US Highways 143 and 146, US Highway 135 north of Southeast 191st Avenue, 182nd Southeast and 191st Streets, 107th Street in Jasper, County Road 135 a half a mile from 8 Mile Still Road, 152nd and 62nd Avenues, 12562 Roberts St., Southeast 50th Drive; 2664 NW 61st Ave.; County Road 132 and West Interstate 75; County Road 145 at the Georgia line, Stephen Foster Drive, Northwest 80th Lane in Jasper, 10880 NW 37th Way in Jasper, Southeast 113th Boulevard in Jasper, 159th Fire Tower Road, 95th Street at the bridge in White Springs, 95th Street and County Road 25A in White Springs, 10171 SE 161st Ave. in White Springs, Boulevard 90 in Jasper, Southern and Bee Streets in Jennings, Georgia and Bee Streets in Jennings, Mary Street in Jennings, Ben Bates and Bee Streets in Jennings, 1270 Bee St. in Jennings; 1st Street in White Springs, Southeast Marable Loop, 2nd Street Northwest and 4th Avenue Northwest in White Springs, 3rd Avenue Northwest and 2nd Street Northwest in White Springs, County Road 6 East by Suwannee River Bridge, 3rd Street by the trailer park in White Springs, Southwest 71st Loop in Jasper, 4500 SW 107th Ave. in Jasper, 6411 99th Ave. in Jasper; 3924-3222 NW 86th Blvd. in Jasper, 9226 NW CR 148 to 9211-9223 NW CR 148, 22nd Terrace; 15354 SE JC Law Trail in White Springs, County Road 143 South curve, Southwest 59th Drive and 109th Drive.
Lafayette County is requesting that citizens not place debris at the roadway at this time. However, debris will be accepted at the Lafayette County Landfill free of charge through Thursday, Oct. 31.
The National Guard, neighboring law enforcement and lineman teams from across the state are hard at work to get everything back on track.
Now that Hurricane Debby is over, it is time to rebuild.