Good Morning, Sunland! It’s Tuesday!

Hey, it’s Ja’Min, and this is Sunland News—

Well, that escalated quickly! Hurricane Milton is now making its way toward Florida like a bat out of he🏑🏑. According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton is expected to make landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast sometime late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

There’s a lot of noise on social media about what affects us here in the county, available resources, and more. So, I’ve decided to make this newsletter a one-stop shop for all that information.

If you find this useful, feel free to forward it to a friend so they can stay informed too.
Writer, Filmmaker, and Publisher | SLN

Sunland News in 5 Seconds 📬

PSL Roads to Avoid 🛣️
Shelter Information (Pet Friendly) 🏠
Fort Pierce Free Sand Station… Information ⌛

📚 Read Time: 5 Minutes

Would you be okay with receiving an emergency email from Sunland News during the day?

Weather TL;DR: "Get Ready" by The Temptations🎶
Cloudy skies with occasional rain showers expected today! ☔

🌞 Day: High of 84°F
🌜 Night: Low of 75°F
🌅 Sunrise: 7:18 AM
🌇 Sunset: 6:59 PM

💧 Rain: 60% chance during the day, 24% at night
💦 Humidity: Day - 87%, Night - 95%

Check Full Weather Report Here

🌪️ St. Lucie Schools Closed Due to Hurricane Milton 🌪️

Heads up, everyone! Due to Hurricane Milton, all St. Lucie Public Schools and District Offices will be CLOSED from Tuesday, October 8th through Thursday, October 10th.

The decision was made following the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center in coordination with the Emergency Operations Center.

If you're looking for a safe place, hurricane shelters at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy and Treasure Coast High School will be available starting Tuesday at 2:00 PM. The district anticipates resuming normal operations on Friday, October 11th, so stay tuned for any further changes.

🚗🔋 EV Owners: Hurricane Milton Preparedness Tips 🔋🚗

As Hurricane Milton approaches, the St. Lucie County Fire District urges electric vehicle (EV) owners to take precautions to ensure the safety of their vehicles and batteries. Also makes me think, has this area had a major hurricane since the influx in electric vehicles? Here are a few key tips from the latest advisory:

• Maintain your EV battery at 100% charge if you plan to evacuate.

• Avoid flooded roads—driving through floodwaters can lead to battery damage or fires.

• Park your EV at least 50 feet away from other structures and vehicles to minimize the risk of fire.

Additionally, don’t park in flood-prone areas or leave your vehicle plugged in during the storm. Check out the full guidelines to minimize battery risks during Hurricane Milton.

[Read More]

🚧 Flood-Prone Areas to Watch During Hurricane Milton 🚧

As we brace for Hurricane Milton, the City has identified key intersections and roadways that are prone to flooding. Residents are urged to avoid these areas if possible, especially during periods of extreme rainfall.

Here’s a quick list of intersections and roadways that may flood:

• California/Savona intersection

• Thornhill (between Brisbane and Airoso)

• Thornhill/Bayshore and Biltmore intersections

• Thornhill/Manth intersection

• Port St. Lucie/Gowin intersection

• Port St. Lucie Boulevard construction area (south of Gatlin)

• Darwin (between Tulip and Paar)

• Airoso/Pisces intersection

• Gatlin/Savona intersection

• Airoso/Port St. Lucie Boulevard intersection

• Melaleuca/Lennard intersection

• Cashmere/Heatherwood intersection

• Walton/U.S. 1 intersection

• Port St. Lucie Boulevard/U.S. 1 intersection

⚠️ Stay safe and steer clear of these areas during heavy rains. We’ll keep you updated as the storm progresses.

[Read More]

🚗Check the current traffic situation via Google.

🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE

🪣 Free Sand Distribution in Fort Pierce 🪣

In preparation for Hurricane Milton, the City of Fort Pierce is offering free, self-serve sand stations to help residents protect their homes. Residents are asked to bring their own bags and shovels. Sand stations are located at the following parks:

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dreamland Park (S. 25th St.)

• Pioneer Park (Ave M and N. 29th St.)

• Little Jim Bait & Tackle (601 N. Causeway)

• Maravilla Park (2622 Oleander Ave)

• Jaycee Park (South Hutchinson Island)

🕒 Parks are open daily from dawn to dusk. Be sure to grab what you need while supplies last!

[Read More]

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

🛑 Shelters Now Open Across St. Lucie County for Hurricane Milton 🌪️

As Hurricane Milton approaches, St. Lucie County has opened several General Population, Pet-Friendly, and Special Needs Shelters for residents seeking refuge.

📍 Shelter Locations:

• Fort Pierce Westwood Academy (General Population & Pet-Friendly Shelter)
  1801 Panther Lane, Fort Pierce

• Treasure Coast High School (General Population & Pet-Friendly Shelter)
  1000 SW Darwin Blvd., Port St. Lucie

• Havert L. Fenn Center (Medical Special Needs Shelter)
  2000 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce

Residents are reminded to bring essential items, including food, water, medications, and any necessary pet supplies. For more shelter information and to find the nearest evacuation zones, visit the interactive Shelter and Evacuation Map.

Stay safe, and keep your family prepared!

[Read More]

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

✈️ Change of Plans? Bahamasair's Got You Covered! 🌴

Were you planning a quick Bahamas getaway before Hurricane Milton changed your mind? Well, good news—Bahamasair is stepping in to help! For the next four days, tickets for any port in Florida can be used and changed without penalty.

Got a flight from Orlando to Nassau? No problem! You can now hop on a flight from Miami or Fort Lauderdale instead, no extra fees. It’s Bahamasair’s way of keeping things flexible while the storm does its thing. Unfortunately I didn’t book a trip, but maybe you did.

So, if your plans got flipped, at least you can still catch your flight (or reroute that Bahamas trip 😉). Stay safe!

[Read More]

🌧️ How Clearing Your Swales Helps Prevent Flooding

With Hurricane Milton making its way toward the Treasure Coast, local crews are doing everything they can to prepare for potential flooding. In St. Lucie County, teams have spent the week clearing drains and canals of blockages to keep water flowing properly. But with rain continuing to fall, their jobs are getting harder, and the ground is already heavily saturated.

Here’s the thing many people may not know: One thing to keep in mind, according to the City of PSL and SLC, is that while the county handles the big systems, it’s actually the residents' responsibility to take care of their own swales and culverts. This may come as a surprise, but keeping these areas clear of debris—like leaves, branches, and trash—is essential for preventing localized flooding around homes and neighborhoods.

Why does this matter? The storm drainage system can only handle so much water at once—about 4 to 6 inches per hour, according to Eric Gill, communications director for St. Lucie County. When it rains too fast, the system acts like a funnel. If it gets overwhelmed, water can start to back up into roads and potentially homes. That’s where swales come in—they’re the secondary collectors that help keep water flowing away from houses and businesses.

What can you do?

• Clear out your swales and culverts: Remove leaves, debris, or any obstructions that could block water flow.

• Check before a storm: Make it part of your hurricane prep to inspect the swales around your property.

• Be mindful of flooding hazards: Never drive through flooded streets—what looks like a shallow puddle could be much deeper and dangerous.

Taking these steps helps protect your home and your community from unnecessary flooding. Every little bit helps, and when we all do our part, we can better manage the heavy rains ahead.

📸 This is Sunland! & This is Me

I always remind myself that there are a lot of new people joining Sunland News, so I like to reintroduce myself every now and then. Hi! My name is Ja’Min Devon, and this picture pretty much captures me perfectly 😂. I take great pride and responsibility in sending this email to you each and every morning, and I'm so happy to have all the new faces aboard. Thank you!

With love,
Ja'Min

🌧️ Join the Sunland Discord! 💬

Growing up, whenever a storm hit, my family and I would hunker down, play card games, tell stories, and make the best of being stuck inside. It was those moments that brought us closer. Now, with the internet, we can recreate that feeling—except this time, we're inviting the entire Sunland News community!

I’ve created a Sunland Discord where we can all hang out, chat, and keep each other company during the storm. Whether you're sharing updates, swapping tips, playing games, or just looking for a little conversation, this is the place for it.

See you there! Join HERE