Post-Milton report

In Northeast Ocala early Thursday, a tree was down on Northeast 7th Avenue before Baseline Road but crews were already on scene working to remove it. [Photo by Thomas Fletcher]

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Posted October 10, 2024 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

As the sun came up on Marion County this morning, many people, including this writer, breathed a sigh of relief. I live in far Northwest Marion County, where many residents were reporting power outages, trees across some county roads and lots of standing water.

In other areas of Northwest Marion County, “Ocala Gazette” correspondent Belea Keeney reported that a tree came down at Sweetwater Oaks Mobile Home Park that blocked the main gate near Northwest 44th Avenue. Crews quickly cleared the driveway enough that a single lane was accessible.

“In the Quail Meadow neighborhood, a tree fell and has blocked Northwest 35th Street at the 4600 block. It damaged mailboxes and the fence between the neighborhood and the farm to its north.
Large tree branches, leaves and other debris are on the ground all around the area. The drainage retention areas at the warehouse complex at Northwest 44th Avenue are full,” Keeney reported.

In Northeast Ocala, staffer Thomas Fletcher reported a tree down on Northeast 7^th Avenue before Baseline Road but noted that crews were already on scene working to remove it.

Correspondent Andy Fillmore reported seeing lots of tree debris on roads and properties and noted that retention ponds were full to the brim in areas such as the 10000 block of East Maricamp Road.

Publisher Jennifer Hunt Murty reported that seemed well in the downtown Ocala area.

As the day continues to unfold, people will be eager to be mobile but both the Ocala Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Office urge everyone to give first responders and utility workers time to assess conditions and work to remedy situations such as power lines down, trees on roadways, etc.

Both agencies posted these cautions on social media sites:

As daybreaks and we begin to get a full picture of the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, the urge to get out and assess the damage, or return to normal life is understandable, but it’s crucial to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Here’s why:

• Debris: Roads may still be blocked by debris or downed powerlines.
• Electricity Outages: With power outages across the county, several red lights are affected. If a traffic light is out, treat it as a four-way stop!
• Emergency Response: Staying off the roads helps first responders, road clearing, and utility crews clear debris and restore services faster.
• Potential Flooding: Floodwaters can contain dangerous chemicals and sewage or downed power lines.

What to Do Instead:

• Report Outages: Report electricity outages to your power company.

Ocala Electric Utility: (352) 351-6666

Duke Energy: (800) 228-8485

SECO: (352) 237-4107

Clay Electric: (888) 434-9844

Withlacoochee River Electric: (352) 796-4382

• Report Downed Trees and Powerlines: Call the non-emergency line at (352) 732-9111 or the Citizens Information Line at (352) 369-7500.
• Do NOT attempt to move power lines or handle trees that are tangled in them. Even if the power appears to be out, lines may still be live, or a nearby generator could cause them to reenergize through backfeeding.
• Be Patient: Cleanup and recovery take time, and while it’s inconvenient to stay put, it’s far better to be safe than to risk harm on the roads.

Please stay off the roads if possible. However, if travel is absolutely necessary, remember that if traffic lights are out, you MUST treat them as a four-way stop.

Stay safe and drive carefully—let’s keep everyone safe on the road!

Stay safe on the roads by following these simple rules:

Flashing RED: Treat it as a stop sign.

Flashing YELLOW: Proceed with caution.

If the traffic light is OUT: The intersection MUST be treated as a four-way stop sign.