Suwannee County officials, emergency management personnel, law enforcement and others met for the conference call Thursday.

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Gov. Rick Scott addressed Florida county officials about preparations for Hurricane Hermine during a Florida Division of Emergency Management conference call Thursday, Sept. 1, around noon.

The Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners met Thursday morning to declare a state of emergency for the county. The City of Live Oak declared a state of emergency, Wednesday that began Thursday 12:01 a.m.

Scott urged for counties to reach out to the state for any support they might need.

“If there is any messaging that you think we need to get out, call us and we’ll do it,” Scott said. “I know everybody is going to do a great job.”

After Scott spoke, the counties gave status updates to state officials about their level of preparedness for the storm.

Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron told officials that the county would be closing schools and all non-essential government facilities for Friday.

As of posting, the county was at level two partial activation for Emergency Management Services, but Cameron said Emergency Management would declare level one full activation at 9 p.m., Thursday.

Once the counties finished giving their status reports, the next conference call was set for 5:15 p.m., Thursday.

Cameron said his major concern is the time frame. The hurricane itself is scheduled to make landfall around 2 a.m., but Cameron was worried about the wind and rain proceeding it. Cameron said he expects around 10 inches of rain.

The wind is expected to reach 75 miles-per-hour. Heavy winds are forecast to last more than 12 hours, according to the National Weather Service. Tornadoes are likely to the south and southeast of the storm.

“I think we’re going to start seeing a lot of difference around eight o’clock tonight,” he said. “And, we really need to be gearing up to get ready for an event that’s going to take place around ten o’clock.”

The Emergency Operation Center will be working all night with other entities inside the county like the hospital, schools and cities.

Live Oak and Branford shelters will be opening at 8 p.m. Cameron advised for people to seek hotel rooms for the night to prioritize shelters for people with special needs.

In Live Oak, the Special Needs and General population shelter will be located at the Suwannee Intermediate School located at 1419 SW Walker.

In Branford, the general population shelter will be open at Branford Elementary School, 26801 SR 247.

Ron Williams, Live Oak city manager, said that city hall will be closed Friday.

Bayode Omosaiye, chief executive officer for Shands Live Oak, said the hospital has generators ready to go if there is a power failure.

“We’re in a wait and see mode,” Cameron said. “To me, I really believe we are going to get the brunt of the storm.”

The Live Oak Fire Department was passing out free sand bags Thursday to citizens who came by the station at 200 Duval St. NE.

On Wednesday, the department passed out around 500 bags and more than 1,000 bags by 2 p.m. on Thursday.

Mike Blackmon, safety officer for the Live Oak Fire Department, said they would probably be up all night taking care of calls and preparing for Hermine.

Ernest Sellers, with the law firm Seller, Taylor and Morrison, stopped by the fire station to pick up sand bags to protect his law office downtown.

“It’s flooded two times before,” Sellers said. “Once in 1964 and then again in 2012 with Debby.”

Gerald Guy also came by the fire station to pick up four bags to block up the door of his apartment at Mel Margo out near the interstate. He said he isn’t too worried about flooding, but wanted to be careful.

Emergency Management will continue to update its Facebook page through the storm.

Emergency Management can be contacted at 386-364-3405.

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