Ormond Beach declares local state of emergency

The City Commission officially declared a local state of emergency in Ormond Beach during a special meeting Friday night.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 7:50 p.m. September 8, 2017

Hurricane Irma could reach South Florida as early as Sunday morning. Graph courtesy of the National Hurricane Center.

Ormond Beach Observer
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The City of Ormond Beach has declared a local state of emergency during a special city commission meeting Friday, Sept. 8, providing the city with the authority to respond quickly during and after Hurricane Irma.

As of Friday night, Volusia County was under a hurricane and storm surge watch as Hurricane Irma approaches Florida. The National Weather Service has described Irma as "potentially catastrophic," and predict it will enter the Florida Keys at a Category 5. The NWS forecasts Irma will go up the state as a "strong hurricane" starting Sunday through early Monday morning.

The city commissioners voted unanimously to approve this emergency ordinance. One of the purposes is to direct the neighborhood improvement division to expedite tree removal permits and to waive any permit fees for "the removal of trees threatening the life, safety or welfare of the city residents or businesses."

After the storm, it will also allow Ormond Beach's chief building officials to help repair roofing with shingles, broken windows, doors and fences that fell down during Hurricane Irma.