Hurricane Ian hazards shift to river

Emergency Management Director John Ward said Thursday afternoon that the storm’s significant threats to northeast Florida have shifted to the coast. Clay residents along the St. Johns River, Doctor’s Inlet and Black Creek could experience a three-foot storm surge overnight, especially in the early morning hours of Friday, coinciding with high tide.

“Around 4 a.m., we will be seeing high tide, so along with that aggressive wave action and that storm surge coming up the river, we could see potential impacts, both to docks, boat houses and bulkheads that are along the river, Doctor’s Lake and potentially the main body of Black Creek,” the emergency management director said.

Ward also said the storm could produce northerly wind gusts down the river, resulting in downed power lines, poles and trees overnight.

“This storm has not caused the impacts that were earlier expected for us, which is a great thing,” he said. “But what I want to warn our community is that it is not over yet.”