HURRICANE MICHAEL POST-STORM UPDATE

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The City of Thomasville would like to provide an update to our recovery efforts from Hurricane Michael:

  • There have been no reported fatalities in Thomasville. Additionally, Thomas County Emergency Management reports no fatalities in Thomas County.
  • Hundreds of trees are down throughout our community. The fallen trees have caused widespread damage to our electric distribution system, telecommunications system and are blocking numerous roads and streets.
  • Road clearing has been a priority for today in order tsherylo provide a clear passage for our community and to aid in the restoration of electrical service.
  • All citizens are encouraged to stay off the roads if at all possible. This is for the safety of our emergency responders.
  • Should you encounter barricades across streets or roadways, please do not enter. These barricades are in place due to down power lines. Do not move or drive around the barricades, as they are in place for public safety.
  • More than 13,000 or 90% of our electric customers were without power this morning. This number is now down to about 11,500.
  • Significant damage has occurred to the transmission system, distribution system and substations. We are continuing to assess damages; however, repairs will take several days.
  • Mutual aid crews are arriving and are actively working to support restoration activities.
  • While all efforts are underway to restore our customers as quickly as possible, this will be a multi-day event. Customers should be prepared to be without power for several days. Outlying areas may be without power for minimally one week.
  • The priorities for restoration are Archbold Memorial Hospital, nursing homes and the medical community.
  • Backup generators have been deployed at major intersections for traffic signals without power. For those without power, please treat each intersection as a four-way stop.
  • City of Thomasville staff is unable to provide an update to customers on their individual outage or estimate a time frame for restoration. We encourage everyone to plan for their outage to last several days.
  • If you or someone in your home requires an uninterrupted power supply, please understand that we cannot respond to your individual outage. You will need to take the steps necessary to relocate to an area that will provide you with the power supply needed for your condition.
  • Solid waste residential collection schedules have been altered due to Hurricane Michael.
    • Thursday residential customers will be collected Friday, October 12, 2018.
    • Friday residential customers will be collected Saturday, October 13, 2018.
    • Thomas County customers (Meigs, Pavo, Barwick, & Boston) that are serviced on Wednesday will have their garbage collected on Saturday, October 13, 2018.
    • Thomas County customers serviced on Thursday will be collected on Friday, October 12, 2018.
  • Solid waste commercial collection schedules have also been altered due to Hurricane Michael.
    • Thursday commercial customers will be collected Friday, October 12, 2018.
    • Friday commercial customers will be collected Saturday, October 13, 2018.
    • Saturday commercial customers will be collected as scheduled.
  • As a reminder, yard trash debris has no specifically scheduled day for pickup. However, we ask our customers to please follow these guidelines for yard trash disposal:
    • Debris cannot be longer than 6 feet in length.
    • Do not mix construction materials, household waste, or appliances with vegetation.
    • Do not block sewer drains or place debris into roadways if all is possible.
    • Do not pile debris under any overhead obstruction or near property that can be damaged (wires, low hanging limbs, mailboxes, pipes, etc.).

Kha McDonald, Interim City Manager, has asked for the community’s continued patience and understanding during post-storm cleanup and restoration efforts. “Hundreds of Team Thomasville members have been working before, during and after the storm,” she said. “Many of us, including my family and me, are also without power so we understand the frustration. However, the damage has been extensive. We are working as quickly and as safely as possible to restore our customers but it will take some time.”

The City’s Administrative Offices remain closed today but will reopen tomorrow, October 12, 2018.


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