District 6 Update

Dear District 6 Residents,

October brought trying times to our communities, and in the wake of Hurricane Milton, bonded our residents together as recovery began. Business to business, neighbor to neighbor, the people and communities of District 6 helped each other start the rebuilding process. I am grateful to everyone of you who pitched in where you were needed. I could not be more proud to represent this district.

Sara

Palm Beach County Hurricane Milton Actions through October 23, 2024

Palm Beach County has waived permit fees for repair and rebuilding of damage caused by Hurricane Milton. Details can be found HERE .

Initial Actions

On Sunday, October 6, the Division of Emergency Management increased to a Level III – Active Monitoring Activation and began conference calls with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service – Miami office regarding Hurricane Milton. The Governor issued an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency, which included Palm Beach County.

On Monday October 7, the Executive Policy Group convened and issued a Local State of Emergency. As Hurricane Milton continued to intensify, Palm Beach County was placed under a Flood Watch and Tropical Storm Watch.

On Tuesday, October 8, the President signed an Emergency Declaration, which included Palm Beach County for reimbursement of Category B - Protective Measures.

On Wednesday, October 9, the County was placed under a Tropical Storm Warning and Tornado Watch. The Division of Emergency Management increased to a Level II – Partial Activation and opened the Emergency Information Center, Special Needs Shelter, Pet Friendly Shelter, and Five (5) General Population Shelters.

Summary of Impact

On the evening of Wednesday, October 9, several tornado warnings were issued for Palm Beach County because of Hurricane Milton. Multiple incidents with significant damages were recorded starting at approximately 4:55 pm affecting the areas of Loxahatchee Groves, Westlake, Wellington, and a portion of unincorporated Palm Beach County. Initial reports by first responders recorded homes that were completely destroyed, overturned mobile homes, and a barn partially destroyed. Multiple cars were overturned with people inside and damaged as well. Multiple large downed trees that caused flying debris and heavy structural damage, missing roofs, multiple other buildings with structural and roof damage, and no electricity to the area.

The first tornado related 9-1-1 call came in at 4:55 pm October 9, 2024. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue units responded to the scene and reported immediate needs for 10 individuals trapped in rubble from a completely destroyed wood-frame house on Deer Run Lane. More than 252 9-1-1 calls came in to the Public Safety Answering Point. Three patients were transported as traumas and four other transport were provided. There were no fatalities in Palm Beach County.

On October 10, the National Weather Service surveyed the area and provided initial reports that indicate the tornado, which started impacts in the Wellington area, was an EF3 tornado and measured 21 miles long and 300 yards wide.

October 11, Palm Beach County was included in the Federal Declaration for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Category A – Debris Removal and Category B – Emergency Protective Measures. Residents can register through the website www.disasterassisstance.gov

October 16, Palm Beach County received approval for Operation Blue Roof. This is to provide temporary roof protection until permanent repairs are completed. Residents can register by calling 800-ROOF-BLU or by searching Operation Blue Roof on the web.

Response and Recovery by the Numbers

Communication and Coordination

The Emergency Operations Center participated in more than 50 conference calls:

Shelter Operations

948 people sheltered
29 pets sheltered

Public Information

827 calls to the Emergency Information Center
375,000+ visits to Palm Beach County Hurricane information pages including Know Your Zone, traffic cameras, and County homepage
585,600 total reach for Facebook, Instagram, and X
13,000 impressions per post on NextDoor

Damage Assessments

Approximately 680 affected residential structures with approximate damage losses to residential and public infrastructure in excess of $95M.

Logistical Coordination/Support

84 tarps for Town of Loxahatchee Groves
100 tarps for the Village of Wellington

FEMA Assistance

FEMA Liaison arrived on October 12 and assigned to Palm Beach County EOC for 30 days – Ms. Valerie Boulet

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance staff arrived on October 15 and began door-to-door visits within the Acreage:

1,621 homes visited
281 interactions
24 registrations
9,055 FEMA registrations

Future Actions

Awaiting arrival of a FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Center.

The General Election is Tuesday, November 5th!

If you're a registered voter, you still have time to make your voice heard.

Early in-person voting is an option through this weekend, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. Locations can be found at the SOE's website.

If you are planning to vote in person on Election Day, you can find your precinct information HERE.

We live with the privilege to cast our votes, in a way that people in countries around the world could only dream of.

At the Sept. 17, 2024, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action on the regular agenda:

Airports – approved, 6-0, contract with JSM for maintenance of airport facilities at Palm Beach International Airport commencing on October 1, 2024 and expiring on September 30, 2026, with the option to renew for three (3) one-year periods in an amount not to exceed $6,620,728 for the initial two year period and authorize Purchasing Director to terminate the contract with ERMC for Maintenance of Airport facilities and Systems effective September 30, 2024.

Facilities Development & Operations – approved, 6-0, on preliminary reading and permission to advertise for a public hearing on Oct. 22, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. the proposed revised “Palm Beach County Real Estate Property Acquisition, Disposition and Leading Ordinance” (PREM Ordinance).

Authorized staff to negotiate the acquisition of an approximately 2.99-acre parcel improved with a 114-room hotel from Rore Asset 5981, LLC, located at 5981 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. The purchase would allow the County to make available in short order 114 rooms to serve as temporary housing. If successful, staff will bring back an Agreement for Purchase and Sale to purchase the property at a later time.

Financial Management & Budget – adopted, 6-0, a resolution authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $110,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Palm Beach County, Airport System Revenue Improvement Bonds to finance a portion of certain capital projects including replacing the Fire Fighting Building, replacing the Revenue Control Building and making capital improvements to Concourse B.

Housing & Economic Development – approved, 6-0, allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding of $80k to Mental Health America of the Palm Beaches, Inc. for improvements to its facility. These are recaptured funds from projects successfully completed under budget or didn’t move forward in previous fiscal years.

Approved, 6-0, allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding of $200k to The Path to College Foundation, Inc. (PTCF) for the Catapult Youth Mentoring Center (CYMC) for improvements to a building located at 1213 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth Beach which will provide students with mentoring, career aptitude assessment, scholastic aptitude test preparation, resume creation college search guidance and scholarship application services. These are recaptured funds from projects successfully completed under budget or didn’t move forward in previous fiscal years.

Approved, 6-0, an Economic Development Agreement with The 1909 Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $250k for the period of October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026 to undertake the development of a comprehensive Scale-Up Initiative for small businesses. This is a reallocation from the West Palm Beach Photographic Centre Settlement Agreement.

Approved, 6-0, the proposed $8,329,252 Fiscal Year 2024-2025 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program allocations for affordable housing strategies and a budget amendment in the amount of $1,973,024 of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to align the budget with grant funding allocation for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 SHIP Program.

Palm Tran – approved, 6-0, the Program of Projects (POP) and grant application from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) allocation in the amount of $32,074,727 to provide capital and operating assistance of the Palm Tran system.

Planning Zoning & Building – approved, 6-0, a Class A Conditional Use to allow a Heavy Repair and Maintenance on 3.42 acres, subject to the Conditions of Approval as indicated in the Staff Report Exhibit C-1, of the proposed Zoning Application called Project Charlie, SV/CA 2024-00590.

Resilience – approved, 6-0, an agreement with Community Greening Corp., in an amount not to exceed $1 million to provide professional/consultation services in the area of urban forestry and engagement services to implement the Resilient Glades Tree Campaign. Palm Beach County was awarded a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for this project.

Westgate/Belvedere Homes CRA – adopted a resolution approving the Westgate/Belvedere Homes Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) fiscal year 2025 budget for its Redevelopment Trust Fund, Capital Improvement Fund, Transportation Planning Agency Grants and Debt Service Fund.

For further information on consent and regular items, please visit the Agenda section of our website.

It's always such a pleasure to see our First Responders out in the community! The Palm Beach Sheriff and Palm Beach Fire Rescue spent a morning inspiring kids who are beginning to think about their future careers at a local school's Parent Career Day!

Palm Beach County's VA Healthcare System has programs available to assist veterans who are homeless, or in danger of becoming homeless. From healthcare services to assistance for transitional housing, the VA is taking an increased role in solving the nationwide homeless veteran crisis.

The West Palm Beach VA Office is at 7305 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach. The phone number is 561-422-8223.

You can view or download flyers with more information about the resources available to veterans here.

Homeless Veterans Information

An updated schedule and budget from the FDOT is now available, and outlines the lighting and road projects for Belle Glade for fiscal year 2025-2029. You can download the project schedule here:

FDOT Glades Project