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Florida Launches Operation Blue Ridge – Deploys Response and Recovery Assistance to North Carolina & Tennessee

Carl Fish
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Florida Launches Operation Blue Ridge – Deploys Response and Recovery Assistance to North Carolina & Tennessee

Deploys Response and Recovery Assistance to North Carolina & Tennessee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida is rapidly deploying recovery assistance to North Carolina and Tennessee to help with Hurricane Helene’s impacts in Operation Blue Ridge. This multi-state agency response will include the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida State Guard, Florida National Guard, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and a Florida Law Enforcement Coordination Task Force, and a Law Enforcement Strike Team. Additionally, today Governor Ron DeSantis is launching Operation Blue Ridge to assist Floridians seeking rescue in Western North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Tennessee Valley. These individuals can fill out our assistance form at FloridaDisaster.org/OperationBlueRidge.

This mission will begin with the following assets and personnel: 

Florida Division of Emergency Management

  • One All-Hazards Incident Management Team
  • One Communication Unit Strike Team
  • One Telecommunications Emergency Response Task Force 
  • Ten Truck Loads of Water (which equates to 42, 550 gallons of water)
  • Over 100 Starlinks

Florida State Guard 

  • Two Special Missions Search and Rescue Teams
    • 8 search and rescue soldiers
    • 1 aerial assessment pilot

Florida National Guard

  • Two National Guard Response Teams
    • 8 National Guard soldiers
  • Equipment
    • 2 CH-47 Chinooks and crew

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

  • One Law Enforcement Coordination Taskforce
    • 7 FDLE agents and analysts
  • One Law Enforcement Strike Team
    • 7 FDLE agents and officers

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement

  • 22-man team
    • 2 Captains
    • 2 Team Leaders
    • 12 Officers/Investigators
    • 1 LE PIO
    • 1Mechanic
  • Equipment
    • 1 SOG trailer
    • 4 High-water vehicles (buggy/high water UTV)
    • 3 Airboats
    • 3 Shallow Draft vessels
    • 18 4×4 trucks
  • Aviation
    • Fixed wing aircraft 
    • 1 pilot
    • 1 tactical flight officer 
Pictures Courtesy Of Tennessee Department Of Transportation

Florida Department of Transportation The Florida Department of Transportation has made the following resources available to support the immediate inspection and assessment of transportation infrastructure maintained by NCDOT and TDOT: 

  • Emergency Cut and Toss Strike Teams
  • Infrastructure Damage Assessment Teams
  • Bridge Inspection Team (including structures impacted by flood waters)
  • Temporary Bridge Materials
  • Hydraulic Modeling Professional
  • Project & Contract Management Teams
  • Public Information Officer & Emergency Communications Technology

Florida stands ready to continue assisting our neighbors as they begin to recover from Hurricane Helene’s effects. Under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida’s strong disaster preparation and efficient response efforts have made it possible to provide much-needed assistance to other states.  

Follow FDEM on X, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates for information relating to Hurricane Helene. 

Pictures Courtesy Of Tennessee Department Of Transportation

Polk DCF Worker Charged After Driving Without A License With Juvenile In Car – Has Charges Dropped

Carl Fish
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Polk DCF Worker Charged After Driving Without A License With Juvenile In Car – Has Charges Dropped

Update: On 9/17/2024 the State of Florida dropped its charges against Jayla Rae Robinson, 22, of Lakeland. She was charged with knowingly driving with a suspended license. According to the latest court documents those charges are No Billed. “Further investigation reveals that thedefendant’s driver’s license was not properly under suspension on the date this citation was written.” Information from the latest court documents.

Editors Note: Many have asked if the very public exposure of these arrests appropriate in any similar case, but especially with a member of a government agency?

Full Arrest Affidavit

—— Original Article ——

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office around 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 19, 2024 on Highway 17 in Bartow. A deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle after learning the registered owner of the vehicle (Jayla Rae Robinson, 22, from Lakeland) had a suspended license. 

When the deputy asked Robinson for her license, she gave it to him and stated that she knew her license was suspended, as she had just been pulled over two days before and given a citation for the same violation. She was arrested for Knowingly Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (M2) and transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center. In the vehicle with Robinson was a 15-year old child whom she told deputies she was transporting to court. Another DCF worker was contacted to come pick up the 15-year old passenger to transport her to court. 

“We take DUI and DWLSR offenses very seriously, especially when the suspects are people in a position of trust in the community. Driving children around for work after already being cited for driving with a suspended license is irresponsible. And driving and crashing a car under the influence of alcohol sets a very poor example.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Polk County Sheriff’s Office & Polk County Fire Rescue Headed To Taylor County For Disaster Relief

Carl Fish
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Polk County Sheriff’s Office & Polk County Fire Rescue Headed To Taylor County For Disaster Relief

PCSO Press Release

The Polk County Emergency Self-Contained Rescue Team, comprise of approximately 45 members from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue, left Bartow this morning around 6:45 a.m. heading to Perry, FL, in Taylor County, to assist the law enforcement and first responders in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. We are entirely self-contained, with mobile command centers, food and drink, mobile kitchen, mobile showers, mobile bunks, generators, water tanks, and fuel trucks, along with our swamp buggy, airboat, surface drive boat, and ATVs.

We will be able to not only help answer calls for service if needed, we will be able to rescue any citizens, clear debris from roads and residences, and do whatever we can for the hurricane victims to they can get back on their feet as quickly as possible. 

Duke Energy Readies 8,000 Workers, Urges Customers To Stay Safe As Tropical Storm Approaches Florida

Carl Fish
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Duke Energy Readies 8,000 Workers, Urges Customers To Stay Safe As Tropical Storm Approaches Florida

Duke Energy readies 8,000 workers, urges customers to stay safe as Tropical Storm Helene approaches Florida

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Duke Energy Florida is readying 8,000 workers to respond to Tropical Storm Helene. As the storm approaches, these skilled individuals are being strategically placed across the state, enabling them to respond as quickly as possible to widespread power outages that are expected as a result of strong winds and heavy rainfall.

 

The company is also sending crews from Duke Energy’s Midwest operations in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

 

Responders include power line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors and support personnel.

 

Trucks will begin arriving at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs, The Villages and Suwannee Valley Farmer’s Market later this afternoon. Staging locations are positioned along the outside of Helene’s projected path, but as close to the impacted areas as possible. Crews are prepared to start power restoration as soon as conditions are safe.

 

“As soon as conditions allow, our dedicated team will be on the ground, carefully assessing the damage and working tirelessly to get the lights back on for our customers,” said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director. “In the meantime, our customers should continue to prepare for this rapidly moving storm and remain vigilant in the days ahead.”

 

Duke Energy Florida urges its more than 2 million customers to consider the following safety tips:

 

  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.

 

  • If rising water threatens your home or business – or if you evacuate due to flooding – turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box.

 

  • Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet or damp surface.

 

  • Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines. Report all power line hazards to Duke Energy at 800.228.8485 or contact your local emergency services department or agency.

 

  • If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.

 

  • Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Do not drive over – and do not stand near – downed power lines. Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.

 

To report a power outage, text OUT to 57801, call 800.228.8485 or report online or through the mobile app. For more safety tips, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips. 

 

Duke Energy Florida 

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.  

 

Duke Energy 

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.  

 

More information is available atduke-energy.com and theDuke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy onX,LinkedIn,InstagramandFacebook, and visit illuminationfor stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

Polk Clerk Of Courts Closed Thursday – Details On Court Hearings, Ticket Payments & Jury Duty Here

Carl Fish
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Polk Clerk Of Courts Closed Thursday – Details On Court Hearings, Ticket Payments & Jury Duty Here

Press Release: Polk Clerk Of Courts

The Clerk’s office is closed on Thursday, Sept. 26, for Hurricane Helene. All operations, including jury service, reopen on Friday, Sept. 27, for normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Reopening may change due to the storm impacts. Please monitor our website for the most current updates.

Jury: All jurors summoned for Sept. 26 should not report. Jury will resume on Friday. If you are summoned for Friday, Sept. 27, please check
back Thursday afternoon to see if your number has been called.

Court Hearings: All hearings scheduled for Thursday will be rescheduled and you will receive a notice with the new court date. You can view full details about your court case and scheduled hearings on our website.


You can also register to receive reminders about upcoming hearing dates at
https://enotify.flcourts.org/.

Payments: Traffic tickets and court fines can be paid online. Deadlines will be extended to end-of-day Friday for those that can’t pay online.

Additional Info: Information about First Appearances, Juvenile Detention, and Juvenile Shelter hearing schedules is available at https://www.jud10.flcourts.org/.

Haines City Woman Killed In Lake Hatchineha Rd. Crash

Carl Fish
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Haines City Woman Killed In Lake Hatchineha Rd. Crash

Haines City woman killed in a two vehicle crash near Lake Hamilton

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred east of Lake Hamilton just after midnight Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Deputies were dispatched to the crash on Lake Hatchineha Road at 12:26 am, along with Polk County Fire Rescue.

61-year old Agnes Dorelien of Haines City was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Mrs. Dorelien was a passenger in a 2009 Toyota Camry that was being driven by 63-year old Yvon Dorelien.

Mr. Dorelien suffered non-life threatening injuries and was also transported by ambulance to a hospital.

The other driver, 41-year old Douglas Fairel, Jr. of Haines City was treated at the scene. He was the driver of a 2021 Cadillac Escalade.

The preliminary investigation by the PCSO’s Traffic Homicide investigators determined that Mr. Fairel’s Cadillac was westbound on Lake Hatchineha Road, when his vehicle crossed over the center line and collided with the Dorelien’s Toyota which was traveling east.

All occupants of the two vehicles were wearing seatbelts prior to the crash.

Lake Hatchineha Road was closed for approximately five hours.

CSXT Postpones Saddle Creek Road Closure Due to Weather Concerns

Carl Fish
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CSXT Postpones Saddle Creek Road Closure Due to Weather Concerns

 

Bartow, Fla. (September 23, 2024) — CSX Transportation’s (CSXT) scheduled closure of the Saddle Creek Road rail crossing at the Saddle Creek Distribution Warehouse complex west Fish Hatchery Road has been postponed due to concerns for potential hurricane-related weather. The closure, scheduled to start Wednesday, September 25, will be rescheduled. A new notification will be released when Polk County is advised by CSXT of the restart date for the repairs needed to correct a track defect at the crossing.

 

For more details, contact Bill Skelton with the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division at (8363) 535-2200. Anyone wanting to report a public road rail crossing issue or complaint should call CSX at 1-800-232-0144 or email them at [email protected].

Sandbag Sites to Open in Polk County on Tuesday

Staff Reporter
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Sandbag Sites to Open in Polk County on Tuesday

Bartow, Fla. (Sept. 23, 2024) — Polk County is making sandbags available throughout the county on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Locations listed below will be open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sandbag site locations are:

  • Mulberry/South Lakeland – Loyce E. Harpe Park, 500 W. Carter Road, Mulberry
  • Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland
  • Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade
  • Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof
  • Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale
  • Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee
  • Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegheny Road, Kissimmee 34759

A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each household address to help prevent water intrusion into the home. You will need to bring a driver license to show your local address.

Residents living in flood prone areas are encouraged to sandbag their homes. To protect against water damage, follow these simple sandbagging techniques. At the area where water can enter a structure:

  • If not working on concrete, dig a small ditch just deep enough to go below ground level. The ditch should be back far enough from the entrance to allow room to place optional submersible (sump) pumps into the protected area. The edge of the visqueen should be placed in the ditch as a bottom layer.
  • Place the first row of sandbags in ditch, fold visqueen over the top of first row, place a second row of bags on top, fold visqueen back over, place a third row of bags on top, and so on. This creates an “S” pattern with the visqueen.

Depending on the size of the barrier, submersible (sump) pumps can be used. The barrier will not completely stop water from entering the protected area; however, with the by properly placing bags, visqueen and sump pumps, water, in most cases, can be removed quickly.

23 Yr Old Polk County Man Facing Federal Charges Of Armed Carjacking & Robbery In Davenport

Carl Fish
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23 Yr Old Polk County Man Facing Federal Charges Of Armed Carjacking & Robbery In Davenport

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Armoni Moody (23, Davenport) with carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted on all counts, Moody faces a minimum mandatory penalty of seven years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Moody that the United States intends to forfeit a SCCY firearm and assorted rounds of ammunition, which are alleged to have been used in the commission of the offense. 

According to the indictment, on June 12, 2024, Moody used a firearm to commit a carjacking during which he took a vehicle from the victim with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. Prior to the offense, Moody had previously been convicted of robbery with a weapon on May 13, 2021. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

Editors Note: The carjacking & robbery followed an attempted marijuana buy! The suspect was supposed to sell the drugs to the victim. Here is a quote from the arrest affidavit – “The suspect tells the victim the marijuana is going to be $55, and the victim gives the suspect the money, at which time the suspect produces a handgun and holds it to the victim’s head, stating, “Yeah, this is a robbery ima need all that if you don’t give it up ima shoot you.”

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Forty-Two Year Old Woman Killed In Interstate 4 Crash In Polk County

Carl Fish
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Forty-Two Year Old Woman Killed In Interstate 4 Crash In Polk County

According to Sergeant Steve Gaskins, Florida Highway Patrol, Public Affairs Officer a deadly crash occurred last night on Interstate 4. The accident reportedly occurred around 10pm. “Vehicle 1, a Toyota 4Runner, driven by a 42-year-old Bradenton woman, was traveling westbound on I-4 in the center lane.  Vehicle 2, a Ford F550, driven by a 41-year-old Altamonte Springs man, was traveling westbound on I-4 in the outside lane, adjacent to Vehicle 1.  Near Milepost 34, Vehicle 1 traveled to the outside lane and collided with Vehicle 2.  Upon impact, Vehicle 1 traveled to the left, then back across the highway before overturning and striking the Exit 33 road sign as Vehicle 2 came to a controlled stop.  Driver 1 suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash while Driver 2 was not injured. 

A passenger traveling in Vehicle 1, a 27-year-old Palmetto man, suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital. 

 

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