By: R. Michael Brown, Civic Association Communications Director -- Red Tide has been confirmed for Indian River County. All Indian River County and City of Vero Beach access points will be closed until further notice.

Here in Palm Beach County, the Red Tide tests are showing none present or very low to background levels only.

Karenia Brevis cells are a form of algae. This algae's common name is Red Tide.

In the map shown, gray dots show that Red Tide is not present/background and white dots show a very low amont. 

Back to Vero Beach, those with respiratory issues, are encouraged to stay away from the beaches if possible for the next 2-10 days. Persons may experience throat irritation and/or coughing if directly exposed to Red Tide.

Daily Reports

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

NOAA Red Tide - Florida

 

 

 

By: R. Michael Brown, Civic Association Communications Director -- The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) took over the Flagler Memorial Bridge from the contractor on October 4 because it had gone 60 days without a malfunction.

On Saturday, the Palm Beach Police reported that the drawbridge malfunctioned around 2:50 p.m., closing for several hours. By 5 p.m. the bridge reopened.

The source of the problem was not immediately known.

FDOT is now fully responsible for the operation, repair, and maintenance of the bridge. 

 

Beaches are open with yellow flags flying. There is some risk that red tide may be in the water. Check with the lifeguard.

10-11-2018 Update on the Red Tide Conditions in the Town of Palm Beach

The most recent testing of the waters off the Coast of Palm Beach County shows reduced concentrations of the microorganism Karenia brevis that causes Florida Red Tide.

The Town’s beaches are open at this time, and reduced levels of red tide are expected to continue through the remainder of the week. The Town will continue to monitor the situation locally and will remain in consultation with the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) as to the results of continued water testing.

Read More (Town of Palm Beach)

PALM BEACH COUNTY NEWS RELEASE -- According to samples taken by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Karenia Brevis organism, which is the species that causes most red tides in Florida, is at least present within the coastal waters of Palm Beach County.

What is still unknown at this time is how high of a concentration is currently in the water. More information will be released upon final results. Additional information will be released this afternoon regarding the status of Palm Beach County beaches.

Some people experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) when the Florida red tide organism is present and winds blow onshore. The Florida Department of Health advises people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions, such as emphysema or asthma, to avoid red tide areas.

Red tides on the East coast of Florida are extremely rare. They can even subside and then reoccur. The duration of a bloom in nearshore Florida waters depends on physical and biological conditions that influence its growth and persistence, including sunlight, nutrients and salinity, as well as the speed and direction of wind and water currents.

There have been 57 occurrences of red tide in the Gulf of Mexico since 1953. Eight of those events have made their way to the east coast in the area of Palm Beach County (with cell counts 100,000 cells/liter or more). All eight of those events originated in the Gulf of Mexico and were carried by currents to the east coast.

For more information on Red Tide and conditions around the state, follow this link to the FWC website: http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/.

 

Potential Airborne Irritant Affecting the Shoreline Areas of the Town of Palm Beach

Beach visitors and Town lifeguards have reported that health effects including eye irritation, itchy throat, and coughing are being experienced in areas along the shoreline within the Town of Palm Beach. In an abundance of caution, the Town’s beaches are closed at this time.

On Saturday, September 29, 2018, the Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County issued a health advisory due to people experiencing respiratory issues and eye irritation along the beaches in Palm Beach County. The Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife are investigating the potential causes of the irritation. The Florida Fish and Wildlife has taken water samples from ten (10) different locations and has sent those samples to their laboratory in Sarasota for testing. Results from that testing are expected today, or Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

People with respiratory problems (such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis) should avoid the beach area at this time. Anyone who goes to the beach and experiences symptoms including eye irritation, itchy throat, and coughing should leave the beach area and seek air conditioning (A/C). If symptoms persist, please seek medical attention or call 911.

While the cause of this airborne irritant is unknown at this time, the Town is in contact with the Department of Health and is awaiting updates at this time.

Town of Palm Beach Alert

 

Town of Palm Beach Fire Rescue issues warnings about beach closures

Town of Palm Beach’s beaches have been closed until further notice due to beach goers complaining of medical concerns. Symptoms include skin irritation, burning/teary eyes, coughing, and sneezing. These symptoms are temporary for most, but people with asthma and COPD should avoid the area until officials have given the all clear. The public is advised to seek medical attention if symptoms persist.

This closure includes both Palm Beach’s Main Beach and Phipps Ocean Park, but all of the Town’s Coastline should heed the advisory. Residents and visitors that stay in close proximity to beaches are being advised to stay off of the beaches and stay inside with the air conditioner running to avoid any complications from exposure to the irritants.

Palm Beach’s waters are being tested and results are expected to be returned within 48 hours. Palm Beach Fire Rescue will send out updates as the situation develops.

Town of Palm Beach Alert

Press

Worth Avenue Shopkeepers, Palm Beach Residents Feeling Effects of Red Tide (Palm Beach Daily News)

 

JUST IN: Location of red tide samples and concentrations in Palm Beach County (Palm Beach Daily News)

Beaches in at least 6 PBC municipalities now closed
Several beaches in Palm Beach County remain closed today after multiple beachgoers complained of respiratory, skin and eye irritations.

On late Saturday, Palm Beach County closed county oceanfront beaches from the Martin County line south to Kreusler Park in Palm Beach for 48 hours.
UPDATE, 9:45 a.m.: A sign on Palm Beach’s municipal beach announced the beach was closed today due to red tide.
Palm Beach Daily News

Beachgoers Fall Ill in Jupiter Prompting PBC Beach Closures; Expert Points to Red Tide
Multiple people complained of respiratory, skin and eye irritations along beaches in Palm Beach County today, prompting officials to close many public beaches from Jupiter to Lake Worth and prompting the Florida Department of Health to issue a 48-hour health advisory. Although officials are still investigating the cause, the symptoms beachgoers described are similar to those caused by red tide, the algae bloom that began on the west coast in October 2017 and peaked this summer with a massive loss of sea life in counties from Sarasota to Collier, according to a Florida Atlantic University algae expert.
Palm Beach Post

Beaches Closed After People Complain of Breathing and Skin Problems in Palm Beach County
Beaches from Jupiter Inlet to Carlin Park, as well as the Lake Worth Pier and Lake Worth beaches, are being closed as a precaution after “multiple people” complained of problems breathing and skin irritations Saturday afternoon.
Sun Sentinel

 

Nadine dissapated over the weekend and currently things are quieter than they have been for a while on the storm front.. The Civic Assocition is tracking all the storms and weather disturbances in the North Atlantic and Gulf. See maps below:

Zoom out and grab map to move it to see more. Move day and time to see the future.

See the animation above at https://www.windy.com

NHC Details
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/cyclones/

The period between Aug. 20 and Oct. 10 accounts for 60 percent of all Atlantic Basin hurricanes and 75 percent of all major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger) in that basin, according to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a tropical scientist at Colorado State University.

 

Get the news that is important to you in This Week in Palm Beach. October 12, 2018 edition.

Click Here To See Original Full E-Newsletter

To subscribe to This Week in Palm Beach and receive it in your inbox, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

By Michele Dargan, Special for the Civic Association -- Town Engineer Patricia Strayer told members of the Town Council Tuesday that there are three streets remaining in the north end where the town was unable to secure homeowners’ permission to install undergrounding transformers on their properties.

If no homeowner in those locations will allow a transformer, then the town will have to extend out a section of the curb into the road and place the transformer there, she said. The piece of curb that extends into the roadway is called a chicane and narrows the road to one-lane at that spot.

The three sites remaining are located on Esplanade Way, Reef Road, and Angler Ave, Ms. Strayer said. The cost of each chicane is $20,000 extra, she said.

“None of us want chicanes,” she said. “We have looked at alternative placement. We have tried to move the transformers to a number of different places to avoid a chicane. We will continue to work with residents…We still have a couple of months before we absolutely have to put the chicane in.”

The Undergrounding Task Force last week recommended painting an outline of the chicane on the roadway so that residents can see what it will look like, Ms. Strayer said.

Project Manager Steven Stern said that within minutes after painting the lines on the road, they received calls from residents wanting to find a solution. There are conversations scheduled with residents on Reef Road and Angler Ave., but they haven’t had a response from anyone on Esplanade Way, he said.

Councilwoman Maggie Zeidman said, “Obviously the chicane goes in only when you’re between a rock and a hard place.”
Council President Danielle Moore said she has heard from parents with young children who were not opposed to the chicanes because it will slow traffic and increase safety.

“I agree that these things do not have to look awful,” said Councilman Lew Crampton. “They turn out to be traffic calming measures and that can be a positive in the neighborhood.”

Resident Bill Metzger said he agreed to put a transformer on his property on the west end of Esplanade Way to avoid a chicane on his street and that transformer has been installed on his property. Mr. Metzger said he had no idea until last week that there is a chicane planned for the east end of the street and was “blindsided” by it.

Project Manager Steven Stern said that they are striving to improve communications with residents for phase two and have completed a mail campaign regarding any type of right-of-way equipment placements. The town will answer any of the residents’ questions now instead of after it happens, so that there will be no surprises, he said.

Town Manager Kirk Blouin said that – going forward - the task force, the council and the homeowners will be notified if a chicane is needed well in advance.

In other undergrounding news: Mr. Stern reported to the council that the town will be conducting informative meetings for residents at Town Hall on Nov. 29 from 3-5p.m. and Jan. 23 3-5 p.m.

Phase one north and south are a little behind schedule due to renegotiations with service providers. Light pole installation is expected to be completed by Nov. 1 and April is the expected target date for power pole removal.

The Town of Palm Beach is hosting a Blood Drive on Thursday, October 11, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Big Red Bus will be located in front of the Police Station at 345 South County Road. All donors will receive a movie ticket, an Improv Comedy Club ticket and a wellness checkup.

Blood donations are a form of volunteering, so there is no fee to contribute. The only item you will need to bring is your driver’s license or an identification card. After you have donated, it is important to eat and drink so your body can start producing new blood cells efficiently.

If you have any questions please contact the Town Manager’s Office at 561-838-5410.

Get the news that is important to you in This Week in Palm Beach. October 5, 2018 edition.

To subscribe to This Week in Palm Beach and receive it in your inbox, CLICK HERE

Civic Association News Video [5:21]