Shelter in place as worst of Idalia passes through city, Jacksonville Mayor Deegan says

Duval County will feel the most impact from Hurricane Idalia from around 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, officials said in a midday briefing.

Mayor Donna Deegan said conditions in the county were similar to that of a "strong Nor’easter," and residents should still shelter in place until they receive the all-clear.

“You have to prepare for the worst when you've got a storm that is out there that has the potential to rapidly intensify,” Deegan said during a storm update.

Idalia shifted more westward than originally anticipated, but the worst of the wind and rain will occur Wednesday afternoon.

Hurricane Idalia live updates: The latest information on the storm's effects on Jacksonville, Northeast Florida

Storm surge could then increase in the evening during high tide and affect low-lying, flood-prone areas.

The county was placed under tornado risk early Wednesday, but Alex Boothe, senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, said the risks of a tornado and heavy rainfall have since decreased.

Here’s everything we know from the mayor’s midday update.

Who do I call in an emergency?

Deegan urged residents to call the city’s line at 630CITY for non-life-threatening emergencies. If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Interim Neighborhoods Director Al Ferraro said the center received 2,225 calls yesterday with an average response time of about 27 seconds. Residents can call the line with questions and for animal protective services, he said.

When will the city resume trash pick-up? What about yard waste?

The city canceled trash pick-up for Wednesday, and Public Works Director Nina Sickler asked that all residents keep their bins off the curb in order to keep them from blowing away and becoming debris.

Public Works has added nighttime crews to address roadway and drainage problems. Pick-up for residential yard waste is currently set to continue on schedule starting Thursday, but extra pick-ups will be considered depending on storm damage. You can find your scheduled pick-up times on the city’s website here.

How many residences are without power?

As of noon Wednesday, JEA CEO Jay Stowe said about 7,200 residences were without power.

“We still expect to have widespread outages later on this afternoon and encourage people to call when they can if the wind speeds are up,” Stowe said.

You can track power outages on the JEA outage map and report one near you here.

Deegan: “Please, please, please stay out of the ocean”

There are no lifeguards on duty at any of the city’s beaches Wednesday. Due to harsh rip currents and continued storms, Deegan asked that all residents stay out of the water.

“We don't want anybody to lose their life, and we don't want anybody to lose their life trying to help somebody,” she said.

Will DCPS schools stay closed Thursday, Aug. 31?

Yes, all Duval County Public Schools will remain closed Thursday. Officials will assess conditions as the storm passes to determine if schools can reopen Friday.

When will high school football practice resume?

Practice for varsity football is tentatively scheduled to resume Thursday afternoon, and players should speak with their coaches to determine the exact schedule.

Friday games are set to continue as scheduled Friday with some exceptions. All updates will be posted to the Duval County Public Schools athletic page.

Officials said there were contingency plans in place for if any football fields that are damaged in the storm.

Are any bridges closed?

No bridges are closed as of Wednesday afternoon. (What you should know about bridge closures.)

Will emergency shelters stay open?

The city’s free emergency shelters remain open as of Wednesday afternoon, but the city has not yet decided if they will be open as of Wednesday night.

Deegan said they will likely close with the exception of the shelter open for people with special needs and will announce the final schedule and closures later in the day.

The emergency shelters open Wednesday are at the following locations:

• The Legends Center - (5130 Soutel Dr.), open for general population and special needs.

• Chimney Lakes Elementary – (9353 Staples Mill Dr.), open for general population and pet-friendly.

• Landmark Middle - (101 Kernan Blvd), open for general population and pet-friendly.

• Atlantic Coast High - School (9735 R.G. Skinner Pkwy), special needs only.

• LaVilla School of the Arts - (501 N. Davis St.), specifically for homeless individuals.

• Oceanway Elementary – (12555 Gillespie Ave.), open for general population.

• Chaffee Trail Elementary School – (11400 Sam Caruso Way), open for general population.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mayor Deegan addresses Hurricane Idalia school closures, power outages