Tropical Storm Eta Passes Through North Central Florida, Leaves Behind Little Damage

Update, Thursday at 10:10 a.m.: Alachua County Public Schools will reopen on Friday.

Alachua County Public Schools and offices will be OPEN on Friday, Nov. 13. The free curbside meals typically distributed on Thursdays will be distributed tomorrow at the usual 24 sites from 9:30 am to 1 pm. The list of sites is available at https://t.co/EQTaFVyRBj.

— Alachua Schools (@AlachuaSchools) November 12, 2020

Update, Thursday at 9:41 a.m.: There’s still a steady warm breeze and drizzle in Gainesville Thursday morning, but the city’s mayor said the outlook is mostly positive after Tropical Storm Eta passed through the area around dawn.

We did quite well last night. We still have a few neighbors without power but are working to restore it. Thank you for being part of the team GNV.

— Lauren #WearAMask Poe (@laurenbpoe) November 12, 2020

The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay provided this rendering of Eta’s looping path around the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and different parts of the Florida peninsula.

Update, Thursday at 7:40 a.m.: Levy County Emergency Management reports a storm surge threat remains for Cedar Key and Yankeetown, even if the most severe weather has now passed.

Cedar Key saw wind gusts over 50mph very early Thursday morning, but there were no reports of injuries or property damage across the county.

About 260 Levy County residents are without power, but Duke, Clay and CFEC are working to restore it. The county urges anyone driving this morning to be extra cautious due to the small tree limbs and other debris that remain on roadways.

Update, Thursday at 6:15 a.m.: 

#Eta's center of circulation has made landfall near #CedarKey in #Levy county. Most of the weather is ahead of the circulation. #FLwx https://t.co/SPI1oOpy91

— Florida Storms (@FloridaStorms) November 12, 2020

Update, Wednesday at 4:50 p.m.: The University of Florida announced its main campus in Gainesville will be closed on Thursday. Alachua County will be under a tropical storm warning into Thursday, and RTS buses are not operating.

The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections has rescheduled its Thursday manual recount of the county’s Growth Management Area amendment for Friday at 9 a.m. Alachua County libraries will also be closed. The county is not planning to open a shelter.

Marion County has postponed its State of the County address that had been scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.

Update, 1:20 p.m.: Voluntary evacuations have been issued for people living in Hernando County coastal zone A and mobile homes. The county is opening a shelter at the Hernando Mining Association Enrichment Center in Brooksville, but Acting Emergency Management Director Erin Thomas encouraged people to stay with family if possible, as capacity is limited due to COVID-19 precautions.

The Hernando County Department of Health has closed for Thursday.

Marion County also canceled Thursday classes, following the same decision in Alachua and Levy earlier in the day. The district said it was doing so “out of an abundance of caution” and “due to predicted high winds that could make it unsafe for buses to be on the roads.”

Gainesville and High Springs city governments also canceled all of their meetings that were scheduled for Thursday. Gainesville also delayed garbage pickup from Thursday to Friday.

Update, 11:45 a.m.: Levy County has opened its public information lines for anyone with questions about Hurricane Eta. The numbers are 352-486-5155 or 352-486-5576.

Update, 11:05 a.m.: Alachua County Public Schools are closed Thursday.

Due to the projected impact of Hurricane Eta on our area, and in collaboration with emergency management officials, the decision has been made to close schools on Thurs, 11/12. Employees should NOT report to work on Thursday. No decision has been made yet about school on Friday. pic.twitter.com/tWuqoFZO6e

— Alachua Schools (@AlachuaSchools) November 11, 2020

Update, 10:30 a.m.: Citrus County is offering two sandbag filling stations at these locations on Wednesday:

• Bicentennial Park, 501 N. Baseball Point, Crystal River, FL 34429
• Homosassa Area Recreational Park Tennis Courts, 4414 South Grandmarch Ave., Homosassa, FL 34446

The county is limiting each vehicle to 15 bags.

Update, 9:15 a.m.: Hernando County is offering a sandbag filling station at Linda Pedersen Park starting Wednesday at 10 a.m.

The address is 6300 Shoal Line Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34607.

The county offers these tips on how to properly fill and stack your sandbags:

• Fill bags one-half to two-thirds of the way full;
• Over-filled bags will result in a leaky sandbag wall;
• Stack sandbags so that the seams between the bags are staggered;
• Tuck the top of each bag under to ensure that that bag is sealed by its own weight.

Update, 9:10 a.m.: Levy County has canceled school and closed all government buildings, county parks, boat ramps and courthouse operations for Thursday.

Storm surge is expected to hit Cedar Key and Yankeetown starting Wednesday night at the high tide cycle and through Thursday.

Update, 9 a.m.: