Key West The Newspaper

Message from Commissioner Sam Kaufman, District II
UPDATE #2 9/15/17 6:30 P.M. EOC Briefing – Hurricane Irma Recovery

MAYBE THE LAST UPDATE!

KEY WEST RESIDENTS (RESIDENTS IN 33040 ZIP CODE) EXPECTED TO RE-ENTER AS EARLY AS SUNDAY!!!! WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES! CHECKPOINT TO REMAIN AND EXPECTED MOVED TO SUNSHINE KEY- MILE MARKER 39. FINAL DECISION TO BE MADE SATURDAY MORNING BY 8:30 A.M. BRIEFING.

KEYS ENERGY- 50% of Key West neighborhoods have restored power. 30% of customers between Key West and Bay Point have power. Continued issues with checkpoints with service personnel. Communication problems with checkpoint. Plan to remove large pole at cow key channel bridge- north bound lanes to close tomorrow for removal of pole from 9:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. ONE LANE OUTBOUND AND ONE LANE INBOUND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE TRIANGLE DURING THIS TIME. Summerland- distribution pole is down, need crane to remove, requires a one hour system to be down for removal. A time is needed to be selected prior to noon on Sunday.

KEY WEST- Lots of meals – 1500 meals, hundreds of water bottles, 500 bags of ice, 900 people were serviced at two points of distribution. POTENTIAL FOR RETURN OF KW RESIDENTS – AFTER DISCUSSION WITH FKAA, SHERIFF, COUNTY OFFICIALS – BEGIN RETURN FOR KEY WEST RESIDENTS AS EARLY SUNDAY. LIMITED TO 33040 ZIP CODE. CITY WOULD NOT BE OPEN FOR VISITORS/TOURISTS. NEED TO GET RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HOUSING THAT IS HABITABLE GETTING BACK TO WORK. NEED TO WORK OUT WITH THE COUNTY HOW BEST TO FACILITATE WITH THE COUNTY. WE WANT TO DISCONTINUE THE DISPLACEMENT OF KEY WEST RESIDENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

MARATHON HAD INTENDED TO BRING RESIDENTS BACK ON SUNDAY. CONCERN ABOUT THE HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC RETURNING BACK ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE CHECKPOINTS. HOPEFUL TO HAVE A SHELTER PLAN IN PLACE, NOT IN PLACE NOW. FIRST 48-72 HOURS MAY NOT BE THE NEED FOR SHELTER AS MUCH AS A WEEK OUT.

FEMA ASSISTANCE LOCATED AT FIRE STATION #2 AT ANGELA AND SIMONTON STREETS. SECOND LOCATION MAY BE AT THE STUDIOS AT THE CORNER OF EATON AND SIMONTON STREETS.

FKAA – CAUTIOUS ABOUT RETURN OF RESIDENTS GIVEN THE INCREASED DEMAND AND CURRENT ABILITY TO SUPPLY WATER. TIMES FOR WATER IN KW START 7-9 AM, 11AM-1PM AND 5-10PM.

CHECKPOINT MAY BE MOVED TO SUNSHINE KEY, MILE MARKER 39.

SHERIFF- CURFEWS REMAIN IN PLACE.