County commissioners have scheduled an emergency meeting for 8 a.m. Friday at Government Center, 600 S. Commerce Ave. in Sebring. They will consider a resolution proclaiming a local emergency.
On Thursday afternoon, SFWMD engineers asked for a Corps of Engineers permit to release water from canals.
“On Friday,” said Jeff Kivett, operations director for engineering and construction, “the canals will drop.”
In Highlands County, lakes manager Clell Ford said the lakes are already full because of the rainy season.
Lake Jackson has a fixed water control structure; when it’s full, water flows through Little Lake Jackson and down a canal, Ford said. “Lake June – we’ve pretty much got that one down and we’re ready to release water. Depending on the rainfall pattern and what’s going on downstream, it can hold another half a foot.”
Most of Avon Park’s lakes have no water-control structures, Ford said. “There’s nowhere for the water to go but in the lake.”
Even with recent heavy rains, flooding has been localized and temporary, Ford said. However, lake dwellers should be aware that strong winds from the south could push lake water to the northern bank, especially on large water bodies.
Releasing water is a delicate balance, Ford and Kivett said. The water in the lakes and canals keeps aquatic plants and fish alive; it provides fresh water for estuaries that are partially filled with salt water; it is also a water supply for agricultural crops.
“How much do we draw down?” Kivett asked. “Not below the water supply line.”
Even if Erika turns, Highlands County could receive significant rain, strong winds and tornadoes.
“We do feel we’ll see some impact from the storm in South Florida,” said Randy Smith, SFWMD spokesman.
Although SFWMD’s system was built in 1950 when 2 million people were envisioned to live in south Florida, the 70 pump stations, 607 water control structures, 2,100 miles of canals and 2,000 miles of levees still control flooding for 8 million, Kivett said.
The three-tiered system begins with local drainage off yards and streets, moves into municipal and county storm drains, and is then deposited into the water management district structures.
Canal levels are monitored at 2,400 points, and are automatically regulated 24 hours a day from a control room, where rainfall is also measured, Kivett said. A fleet of helicopters are already located in pump stations. Canals have already been cleaned of debris, but the helicopters and staffers on the ground will make certain downed trees or vegetation are removed after the storm.
“We can’t wait until we see where it’s going to hit; we have to start now,” Kivett said.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty with this storm right now, but we are putting things into place to be prepared well before we need them in case this thing turns west and or strengthens,” said Scott Canaday, director of the Highlands County Emergency Management . The EOC is at a Level II, a monitoring stage.
“We will be having a community partners meeting after the (county commission) meeting,” Canaday said. If the storm stays its current path, the county will move to Level III.
“At this time, I encourage everyone to dust off their plan if they haven’t done so, check their supplies, and replenish what is needed and monitor the county web site and the county app, and local news reports for updates. I will push them out as soon as I get them that pertain to us here in Highlands County,” Canaday said.
More info: South Florida Water Management District, www.sfwmd.gov/; South Florida Water Management District, www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/; or Highlands County, www.hcbcc.net/. Click on the county’s Emergency Management tab.
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