City declares state of emergency ahead of Idalia

A skeleton crew at the Lake City Council’s emergency meeting has followed the county’s lead and declared a local state of emergency Monday afternoon in response to Tropical Storm Idalia.

The council, headed by Vice Mayor and Councilman Todd Sampson, passed the measure unanimously with Sampson and Councilmen Ricky Jernigan and Jake Hill Jr. voting for it. Mayor Steven Witt and Councilwoman Chevella Young were not in attendance.

As part of the city’s preparations for Idalia’s projected landfall — which is predicted to happen Wednesday morning — Assistant City Manager Dee Johnson said staffers would be on hand to give out pre-filled sandbags to city residents at the Public Works Department, located at 180 NE Gum Swamp Rd. A maximum of 10 bags per vehicle has been imposed. Bags will be given out on Tuesday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lake City Fire Chief Josh Wehinger also gave updates as to how the department would operate throughout Idalia’s landfall. He mentioned that if Lake City suffers from sustained winds of 45 mph or more, fire crews would have to be pulled from the roads due to safety concerns.

“The fire department emergency vehicles will respond up until winds reach a sustained 45 mph wind, and that’s really what the lineman crews and everything that we follow suit with,” Wehinger said. “If it’s an emergency situation — we’ve got somebody trapped in a house or something like that — we’re going to try to do the best we can.”

Sampson called on Lake City residents to get ready for any outcome, depending on Idalia’s trajectory.

“The main thing is just for people to be prepared,” Sampson said. “Now’s the time to listen to what the recommendations are. If it’s recommended that you leave, there’s a reason for that.”