FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. – Flagler beaches remain closed until ocean water tests return with normal levels of enterococci bacteria, health officials said.
"Tests are regularly taken at six locations within Flagler County by the Flagler Health Department, and some of the test results from samplings five days after Hurricane Matthew returned higher than normal levels of enterococci bacteria," officials said.
Results at Washington Oaks, Beverly Beach and Gamble Rogers were high enough to warrant the issuance of an advisory. Samples both north and south of the pier were elevated, officials said.
"We recommend posting an advisory when the test results come back at 70 colony forming units per 100 milliliters of water,” said John Bey, environmental health director.
The Health Department is re-testing water Friday, and the results of those tests are expected Saturday afternoon.
“We want to see what the new test results are before we reopen the beaches,” Flagler County administrator Craig Coffey said. “We know people want to get back to the beaches they love -- they are one of our greatest assets here in Flagler. We need to make sure that everyone is safe.”
Assistance for residents
Meanwhile, Flagler County residents struggling after Hurricane Matthew now have one centralized place to go for help.
For resident Yvette Coomes of Palm Coast the center is extremely helpful.
"I need to replace a lot of my food," she said. "This is really really a blessing. This is so great I have made phone call after phone call to Salvation Army," Coomes said.
An assistance center was set up on Tuesday ahead of the Federal Emergency Management Agency visit taking action to set one up to help residents in need of charging phones and food stamps.
"We've gone through about 300 people the first three hours," Wheeler said. "Similar to what we had yesterday so about 100 people an hour going through this center. "It's great that we can answer questions and they may not be getting the answers they want but at least they are talking to somebody and getting their situation right now and getting some answers," Flagler County spokesperson Jason Wheeler said.
The center is also helping those who need help in filling out a FEMA application.
The center set up at the Flagler County Public Library is seeing 100 people an hour, officials told News 6 reporter Nadeen Yanes.
Coomes said it was nice to speak with someone face-to-face instead of a recording.
SR A1A washed out
Local and state officials met Thursday to discuss a plan to rebuild the over one-mile section of AIA washed out by Hurricane Matthew.
Officials from Flagler County, the city of Flagler Beach and the state’s transportation agency gathered to discuss the estimated $35 million in damage to 1.3 miles of roadway.
Local drivers have to detour around the section of the road that was damaged.
The meeting came the day after teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency went to Flagler County to assess the damage from Hurricane Matthew.
"FEMA is working with local communities in the state to get a close look," said FEMA spokesperson John Mills. "We want to know what their unmet needs are, what are their losses are and what their continuing needs."