Hurricane Idalia Notice

Dear JWB Resident,

JWB has made the decision to close the offices beginning Wednesday 9/28 at 12pm ET through Friday 9/30. We will re-open and operate as normal on Monday 10/3.

As you may be aware from watching the news, Hurricane Idalia is strengthening in the Caribbean and is projected on a path that will affect Central and North Florida. While the path and direction of the storm may change it can pose a real threat to Florida and potentially Jacksonville. We want to make sure our residents are safe and secure as we deal with the effects of a potential storm. Please proactively review the below Hurricane Preparedness and Emergency tips. The list contains proactive safety measures you can take, our emergency maintenance protocol, and local emergency services contact information. This is a great resource to refer to as we prepare and go through the effects of this storm together.

Emergency Guide   

If we are in a state of an emergency our office will be closed. We will have limited vendors on standby to help with any emergency damage caused by a Hurricane (if the roads are safe to drive on). To report any damage please call our maintenance line at 904-416-1600 and leave a detailed message listing your address, state of the emergency/damage, and best call back number. We will have remote staff handling emergencies based on the level of priority, and the order received.

**Please keep in mind for the safety of our vendors during a storm they likely will not be able to dispatch their crews until it is deemed safe. **

Tips to Prepare & Prevent Damage

SECURE YOUR HOME – Move any loose items (lawn furniture, grills, toys, trash cans, etc) and other items inside or under a shelter. During a storm, they can become high-speed projectiles that can blow around and damage your home, vehicles, or people.

PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES– Store valuables on upper shelves, on top of tables, on the second story, etc. to minimize contact with water if flooding occurs. Contact your renter’s insurance proactively to see what they will cover as far as damage to personal property.
 
BOARD WINDOWS– JWB will not board windows, but we do allow residents to proactively do so in the event of a hurricane impacting Jacksonville. Cover up windows and doors with storm shutters or plywood nailed to the outside window frames. This can help protect you from shattering glass.

FLOODING– Store valuables on upper shelves, top of tables, the second story, etc. to minimize contact with water if flooding occurs.

ROOF LEAK– Place buckets, bins, towels, or indoor tarps to collect water and minimize damage.

SANDBAGS– JWB does not provide sandbags. You will need to search areas near you that provide free or paid-for sandbags to have on hand to prevent water intrusion if water levels rise. We suggest storing these ahead of time year-round to avoid the last-minute rush.

STOCK UP ON EMERGENCY SUPPLIES– Prepare your disaster supply kit ahead of time so you don’t have to deal with a rush on supplies at stores last minute. During a hurricane the Insurance Information Institute recommends stocking up on these items:

• Extra batteries
• Candles or lamps and fuel
• Matches
• Heavy plastic sheeting, plywood, and other materials for home repairs
• Basic tools, like wrenches and hammers
• Prescriptions
• Enough drinking water for three days
• Nonperishable food that doesn’t have to be refrigerated or heated
• First-aid supplies
• A portable NOAA weather radio
• Flashlights

Power Outages

If Your Power Goes Out This is likely a UTILITY issue and we will not be dispatching electricians. Please check your local utility authority websites for updates on outages as necessary

Power outages are a common occurrence during hurricanes and other natural disasters. It’s a good idea to take some extra steps to prepare for losing power, like filling up your gas tank far in advance of the storm and having cash on hand in case ATMs aren’t working. You should also:

• Charge your cell phone and other devices before the storm hits.
• Cover up windows on the inside to prevent light from entering and warming the house too much.
• Fill your bathtub and large containers with water that you can use for washing and flushing.
• Turn your fridge temperature down and freeze food and drinking water ahead of time. Fill a cooler with ice packs to help keep cold food cool if power is out for more than four hours. Be prepared to discard perishable foods if power is out for too long.