ORANGE PARK – With hurricane season upon us, all hands are on deck in Orange Park, including the Public Works Department, Town Manager’s office, and other departments taking extensive safety measures to protect residents from the 2023 storm cycle.

Public Works is already making initial preparations for their staging areas, making room for debris to be collected at their headquarters, and ensuring all equipment is in proper running condition in light of hurricane season.

“We’re ready for debris clean-up,” said Kyle Croce, Public Works Director.

Croce and the department began coordinating with other departments and county so they would be on the same page if a potential storm were to strike. 

“We’ve coordinated with the Fire Department, Police Department and Town Manager (Sarah Campbell) on any forecasting and tracking needed, and the county on their emergency operations. We’ve also started looking at the weather (forecasts) a lot more,” he said.

By surveying parks and structures, Croce and his crew already have their boots on the ground in preparation for hurricane season. Now, they’ll be ready for the worst-case scenario.

“They are out there looking at the parks and setting up (other) areas for more inspections and clean-up throughout the city for stormwater and the stormwater system,” Croce said.

Here’s how it works:

Workers split up into different sections of the town and looked at inlet structures and ditches that carry stormwater. “They (also) start moving them and clearing them of any debris that may have fallen in,” he said.

An excellent working relationship in the county is also crucial for a smoothly-running operation which the town coordinates with for essential services when a storm makes landfall for things such as coordinating sandbag pick-up and drop-off locations.

The county is also willing to lend a hand, not just with sandbag drop-offs and communications, but with hauling debris after the storm.

“They’ve always offered help if we need help, and we can piggyback off their debris-hauling and monitoring contracts. We haven’t had to in the past couple of years, but they’ve said (the service) is available (to the town) in their contracts. It’s a great relationship,” Croce said. 

Of course, Orange Park returns the favor.

“(Public Works) is one of the locations that the Sherriff’s Department comes to get fuel from for the vehicles in the area,” he said.

The primary responsibility of the Public Works Department is to keep the roadways clear so that emergency vehicles can travel freely after a storm. They work alongside the police department and Jacksonville Electric Authority to maintain a smoothly-running operation.

“Any time we get a call that a tree is down or a power line is down, we get out there, as long as the streets aren’t flooded, and we’re able to get there so that emergency vehicles can get through and reach anybody needs help. We’re right in the middle of it during a storm,” Croce said.

A convoy of town-funded trucks provides workers with the necessary tools to clear debris.

Dump trucks are necessary for hauling debris, which can be disposed of in a number of ways following the storm, all dependent on the storm’s size.

Bucket trucks are also a major asset. One of the machines can lift a worker to the highest point so they can safely perform a job, such as cutting down a broken limb.

One of Croce’s favorites is the trash truck. Otherwise known as the “claw truck,” this especially comes in handy during each hurricane season.

The powerful red claw mounted to the back of the cabin is capable of ripping away broken branches and picking up large objects, which are placed into its large trash bed, which can then be hauled away. Two outriggers also provide ultimate stability as the machine completes its tasks. 

Keeping wastewater services operational is also important.

“We have permitted generators, and we set up temporary generators to ensure that all lift stations keep going. Sometimes, lift stations can be a problem, but we’re there, and the JEA also helps us with power, so that’s really good,” Croce said. 

Campbell has been preparing Orange Park for storm season.

“Every year, we participate in the Clay County Hurricane season exercise. I participated, along with the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and members of our staff. In addition, we review the Town’s Disaster Management Plan without Department Head Team,” she said.