The photos on the left and above were posted by Stan Epperly, FRWA Water Circuit Rider with "boots on the ground" for Hurricane Helene relief. The time of the post was 4:00 am. Stan, along with other FRWA employees have been actively working in emergency mode since Helene hit a week ago. He commented, "Meditation time fo a FRWA Emergency Response Circuit Rider."

Our staff has not had a lot of free time to meditate and I know that he welcomed the time to sit a while, drink a cup of coffee, and think about the last few days and try to make sense of what has happened.

The FRWA warehouse is empty and our employees are exhausted, but we must continue to assist systems in doing everything possible to get them back up and running so they can continue to offer fresh water for their communities.

Prior to Hurricane Helene on September 26th, our warehouse was stocked to the brim with 42 generators and other emergency equipment ready to be deployed. The photo on the right was taken on October 1st after deployment throughout Florida.

FRWA is also assisting our Georgia Rural Water neighbors impacted by Hurricane Helene with hosting Alabama Rural Water Staff who are on scene responding as well as providing 9 generators to help in their time of need. It truly is a challenging time for all of our Rural Water systems across the southeast and our thoughts and prayers are with them all.

PSA for those interested in Hurricane Helene response efforts in Florida and the entire southeast…

In the aftermath of any storm you mainly hear reports about power outages, roadway access, property damage, cell phone service..… but rarely do you hear about water and wastewater…it amazes me every single storm event just how little people value the service of water. Without water we do not survive…you can live without power, as uncomfortable as it may be… our industry fights every single day with the authorities about access to areas impacted by storms, we are denied fuel because we are not first responders in times of emergency( just passed a bill this past session stating different), can’t get any respect that what we do matters……appalling at the very least that something so precious, people value the least. 

Florida Rural Water Association we appreciate you.. utilities across the state of Florida you are essential and you are the unsung heroes…getting the job done no matter what it takes…

#WaterIsLife

No water= no life

11:30 AM EDT | Friday, October 4, 2024

Helene Recovery Weather

Major Hurricane Kirk & Tropical Storm Leslie

Gulf of Mexico Disturbance (40%); Locally Heavy Rainfall Possible Across Portions Of The Florida Peninsula Late This Weekend Into Next Week

Major Hurricane Kirk:

• As of 11:00 AM EDT, Kirk is located about 975 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and moving northwestward at 12 mph.

• This general motion is expected to continue today. A turn toward the north and north-northeast at a faster forward speed is anticipated over the weekend.

• Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph with higher gusts, making Kirk a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

• Small intensity fluctuations are possible today. Weakening is forecast to begin on Saturday and continue through early next week.

• Kirk poses no direct threat to Florida at this time.

Tropical Storm Leslie:

• As of 11:00 AM EDT, Leslie is located about 670 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands and moving west-northwestward at 7 mph.

• A turn toward the west-northwest is expected to continue today, followed by a turn toward the northwest and an increase in forward speed early Sunday into Monday.

• Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts.

• Additional strengthening is forecast, and Leslie is expected to become a hurricane by tonight or Saturday.

• This system poses no direct threat to Florida over the next 10 days, at least.



Gulf of Mexico:

• Disorganized showers and thunderstorms located over the western Gulf of Mexico are associated with a trough of low pressure.

• A broad area of low pressure is expected to form over the southwestern or south-central Gulf of Mexico this weekend, and thereafter some gradual development is possible while the low moves slowly eastward or northeastward.

• A tropical or subtropical depression or storm could form during the early to middle part of next week if the low remains separate from a frontal boundary that is forecast to extend across the Gulf of Mexico next week.

• Regardless of tropical or subtropical development, locally heavy rains could occur over portions of Mexico during the next few days and over portions of the Florida Peninsula late this weekend into next week.

• The NHC is outlooking a low (near 0%) chance of development over the next 48 hours, and a medium (40%) chance of development over the next 7 days.

The next name on the list is Milton (MIL-ton).

Florida Outlook:

• Rain chances will increase statewide today; a locally strong thunderstorm or two may be possible during the peak heating hours of the day.

• Localized instances of flooding cannot be ruled out today and Saturday, especially with locally heavy rainfall along urban and low-lying/poor drainage areas, over saturated grounds, or within slow-moving or training activity.

• River Flood Warnings remain in effect across the Big Bend and Northern Peninsula as elevated water levels continue in the wake of Helene.

• River levels along the Apalachicola River near Blountstown and Withlacochee River near Pinetta (CR-150) continue to run in Minor Flood Stage.

• Minor flooding is occurring or forecast along Cypress Creek at SR-54, Little Manatee River near Wimauma at US-301, and Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR-64 due to locally heavy rainfall.

• Minor flooding continues along the St. Johns River at Astor due to trapped tides in the basin.

• Additional rises in water level will be possible along the Withlacoochee River and along Suwannee Valley mainstem rivers (including the Suwannee, Alapaha, and Santa Fe) as excess heavy rainfall discharge through the basin from the Georgia headwaters. With the return of a wet and active weather pattern next week, additional water level rises will be possible along rivers, creeks, and waterways in the Peninsula.

• Rainfall totals will be highly dependent upon the evolution of the tropical disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico, with most of this activity not beginning until later this weekend or next week.

• There is potential for widespread rainfall totals near 5-8” with locally higher totals across portions of the Peninsula over the next 7 days.

• Computer models are indicating the heaviest rainfall totals may occur across South and Central Florida and north of the I-4 corridor; however, the exact placement of these more significant totals will continue to be modified depending on the tropical disturbance’s organization and track.

• Please continue to stay tuned for the latest computer forecast model guidance and trends in the subsequent days.

The next briefing packet will be issued on Saturday. For the latest information, please visit the National Hurricane Center website. 

NATIONAL NEWS

EPA Recognizes Children’s Health Month-Today, October 1, 2024, EPA is recognizing October as Children’s Health Month. Every year, EPA begins the fall season by raising awareness about the crucial role our environment plays in the ability for our nation’s children to grow up healthy and happy. more

Hurricane Helene After the Storm Messaging Resource Toolkit-This toolkit provides resources for you to share with your community about recovering from Hurricane Helene. more

NRWA Registered Apprenticeship and the Rural Water Workforce-Thu, Nov 21, 2024 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST more

PFAS Project Playbook: How to implement a cost-effective and compliant PFAS removal system De Nora Water Technologies LLC-Thu, Oct 24, 2024 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT more

Over 4,500 Federal Personnel Supporting States Impacted by Hurricane Helene, Biden-Harris Administration Continues Response Efforts-President Biden to travel to North Carolina to meet with community leaders and first responders. more

Small water utilities cannot achieve PFAS cleanup on their own-Commentary Limited budgets, smaller customer bases and skeleton crews put a heavier PFAS burden on rural systems; polluters should be held accountable. more

US Southeast in need of aid after Helene-Supplies rushed in as storm death toll reaches at least 91

more

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is On the Ground in North Carolina, BidenHarris Administration Actively Responding and Providing Life-Saving Support-President Biden has Directed the FEMA Administrator to Remain in Asheville, North Carolina until the Situation has Stabilized

more

EPA Issues Consent Order to MAX for Clean Water Act Violations at Yukon, PA, Waste Facility- Max Environmental Technologies, Inc. (MAX) will take steps to properly manage the treatment and disposal of industrial wastewater at the company’s waste management facility in Yukon, PA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. more

Here's a list of the latest recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene-Here’s all the updated information from local governments related to storm recovery from Hurricane Helene. more

U.S. counties most at risk for flooding in 2024-LawnStarter ranked the U.S. counties with the highest flood risk this year. more

FEMA Administrator Surveys Damage in Florida as Hurricane Helene Response Efforts Continue-Today, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is in Florida surveying damage and assessing the need for federal resources to support Hurricane Helene response activities. more

STATE NEWS

RESCHEDULED: Jackson Blue Spring and Merritts Mill Pond Basin-Event Date: 

Tuesday, October 08, 2024 - 10:00am CDT more

Red tide found in Pinellas County waters as Hurricane Helene cleanup is underway-Residents and business owners slogging through cleanup from Hurricane Helene on Pinellas County’s barrier islands now have another worry, according to county officials: red tide. more

Pinellas County crews working to restore water on barrier islands-Pinellas County Utilities employees are hard at work right now. more

Helene reopened Midnight Pass, but for how long?Volunteers with shovels are trying to reshape the inlet that closed 40 years ago in an effort to continue the tidal exchange of water, which was restored by the hurricane. more

Residents asked to weigh in on how Florida springs are regulated. Time is running out for the public to weigh in on how Florida springs are regulated. more

Temporary dams installed by state helping Florida towns during hurricane season: ‘A lot of relief’-Flooding mitigation measures taken by the state are proving to be effective this hurricane season.

more

Hurricane Helene wrecked sewage systems all over Tampa Bay-Tampa dumped 8.5 million gallons of sewage. In St. Petersburg, feces seeped up from floors in homes. more

Hillsborough commissioner wants county to stop adding fluoride to water-This comes after a federal judge ordered the EPA to further regulate the chemical in water. more

Preparing for Round 2 of AWIA-Oct 31, 2024 02:00 PM more

Utilities and Solid Waste Changes Set for Oct. 1-Oct. 1 will bring changes for Polk County Utilities and Solid Waste customers. more

Columbia County schools to reopen Tuesday as residents continue cleanup from Helene-Columbia County Schools said that all schools now have power and are safe for both students and staff to return to campus after Hurricane Helene. more

Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Response and Recovery Efforts to Hurricane Helene-Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, Adjutant General of Florida Major General John D. Haas, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary (FDOT) Jared Perdue, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in Bradenton Beach to provide updates on recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene impacted Florida’s Big Bend region and Gulf Coast. more

Longboat Key works to recover from 'truly historic' storm-Facing gas leaks, water main breaks and electricity problems, officials work to get the island safe for residents. more

Food, water distribution sites opening after Hurricane Helene-In a recovery effort after the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, there are several different areas from Tampa to Manatee that are helping with food and water distribution today. more

September 30, 1882 – Paper manufacturer H.F. Rogers (Appleton, WI) opened the first hydroelectric power plant in U.S.at riverside paper mill on Fox River, in Appleton, WI (later known as Appleton Edison Light Company); powered by water wheel, provided 12.5 kilowatts, enough for 180 lights (ten candlepower each) to light Rogers’ home, plant.

“On September 30, 1882, the first centrally located electric lighting system using the Edison system in the West and the first hydroelectric central station in the world began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Vulcan Street plant (the Appleton Gas Light Co.), later named the Appleton Edison Light Company, powered the two paper mills of H. J. Rogers’ Appleton Paper and Pulp Co. and his residence, Hearthstone. Rogers, also president of the Appleton Gas Light Co. had been inspired by Thomas Edison’s plans for a steam-based power station in New York. With financial backing from three Appleton men, one a personal friend of Edison’s, Rogers began building this new venture during the summer of 1882, harvesting the power of the Fox River with a water wheel. The water wheel, generators, and copper wiring took only a few months to install and test. Initial testing of the plant on September 27 was unsuccessful but the Edison “K” type generator powered up successfully on September 30.”

Commentary: Interesting juxtaposition of topic and dates. On the same day only 54 years apart, hydroelectric power generation goes from beginning to one of the biggest in the world.

FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION http://www.frwa.net

2970 Wellington Circle | Tallahassee FL 32309

850.668.2746 | Contact Us