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Tropical Storm Nicole Resources

Florida Ports

  • The Jacksonville District has prepositioned its survey vessels and crews near deep draft ports in Florida to provide immediate harbor surveys, if required, once the storm has passed. 
  • We work closely with our partners in the U.S. Coast Guard and various port authorities to ensure a quick return to normal port traffic.

JACKSONVILLE Port Authority (JAXPORT)
TAMPA Port Authority (Port Tampa) 
MIAMI (Port Miami) 
 

Contractors Seeking Work

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, is working with the full range of federal, state and local partners in response to Tropical Storm Nicole and the restoration work that will be required in its aftermath.
  • Businesses and individual contractors interested in doing business with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should take the first step of registering with the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/index.jsf
  • The SAM.gov solicitation and contract award system is used by the Corps and many, many other federal agencies for publishing solicitations and awarding contracts.  The Corps draws on the pool of SAM.gov registered businesses to award the contracts necessary to accomplish its missions, including post-storm restoration work.
  • Small businesses may be particularly interested in contracting opportunities available through  the Jacksonville District Small Business Program. Information and points of contact may be found at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/SmallBusiness/.
    Subcontracting opportunities usually result through partnerships with larger companies. Firms interested in pursuing such possibilities can find information from the U.S. Small Business Association at https://www.sba.gov.

Costal Shore Protection Projects (Beach Renourishment)

  • Coastal engineers will inspect USACE Coastal Storm Risk Management projects as soon as it is safe to do so. Inspection teams will survey the project and assess if any changes to the project plans are necessary after the storm.
  • The beach projects are specifically designed to help protect infrastructure from storms like Tropical Storm Nicole. We expect to see erosion on many federal project sites and believe that without those projects we would have seen much more damage to buildings, roads, and other facilities from this storm.
  • The corps can also inspect non-federal beaches for damage if given a mission assignment to do so by FEMA through the state EOC.
Assessing coastal impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole
Assessing coastal impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole
Assessing coastal impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole
Assessing coastal impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole
Assessing coastal impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole
Jacksonville District prepares for Hurricane Nicole

Tropical Storm Nicole Response

The Army Corps of Engineers-Jacksonville District is coordinating closely with Federal agencies and state, local, and tribal government officials in Florida on preparedness and response activities to minimize the impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole on the state, our facilities, and our projects. The Jacksonville District is deploying staff to the state of Florida Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the South Florida Water Management District EOC, and is pre-positioning staff in several key locations, ready to begin recovery operations as soon as it is safe and we receive mission assignments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This page has both overall and state-specific information and resources related to storm safety, shelter information, news and multimedia products, and rumors and scams.

USACE South Florida Operations

Herbert Hoover Dike and Lake Okeechobee:

  • Operations staff inspected the Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD)  prior to landfall of Tropical Storm Nicole and found no areas of concern..
    • HHD is safer today than it has ever been going into a storm.
    • Construction on the dike is 97% complete, all culvert replacements and removals are done, and the cutoff wall construction is 99% complete.
    • USACE will return for post-storm inspections when weather conditions are safe to do so.
  • USACE made no pre-storm releases from Lake Okeechobee.
    • Following standard operating procedures, operations teams closed all USACE structures on the lake before landfall.
    • Those structures will remain closed throughout the storm to maintain the integrity of HHD and be inspected before they are returned to normal operations.
  • USACE does not have a current estimate of how much lake rise can be anticipated by this storm, but with the lake already at nearly 16 feet, the potential exists that high-volume releases will be needed following the storm.
  • With the structures on HHD closed, including the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308), lock operators will only be able to maintain the C-44 canal level to avoid local flooding by releasing water out of the St. Lucie Lock and Dam (S-80).
    • The decision to release water from that structure is made by the lock operator on the ground in real time as a response to changing conditions.
    • As the storm approaches, the storm surge will increase water levels within the St. Lucie Estuary and impact properties.
    • Releases from the S-80 will need to continue when necessary to manage local runoff for flood control purposes.
    • Any releases from S-80 will not include water from Lake Okeechobee, and will be curtailed as soon as weather and C-44 canal conditions allow.

Navigation on Okeechobee Waterway

  • USACE ended the Okeechobee Waterway expanded lock operating hours for safe haven on the evening of Nov. 9, Normal lock hours will return for locks that are still open beginning Nov. 10.
  • The Canaveral, St. Lucie and Port Mayaca Locks closed Nov. 9 during the storm when weather conditions became unsafe for continued operation. 
  • The Julian Keen, Ortona, and Franklin locks will remain open as long as it is safe to do so. Operations will be suspended if lightning is in the area or if wind gusts exceed 35 mph.
  • Operation teams will begin inspecting USACE facilities and structures along the C-44 canal leading to the St. Lucie River when conditions are safe to do so.

Corps Mission

Every year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, part of the federal government’s unified national response to disasters and emergencies, sends hundreds of people to respond to disasters around the world. Here at home, USACE assists the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency as the primary agency for public works and engineering-related emergency support. FEMA assigns USACE missions to include: debris management, commodities distribution, temporary housing, temporary roofing, emergency power, infrastructure assessment, and support to urban search and rescue.

  • USACE uses pre-awarded contracts that can be quickly activated for missions such as debris removal, temporary roofing, commodities distribution, and generator installation.

  • When disasters occur, USACE teams and other resources are mobilized from across the country to assist our local districts and offices to deliver our response missions.

Disasters and Emergencies

Resources for Affected Areas

Recreation Facilities

  • Jacksonville District park rangers will monitor conditions at Corps’ campgrounds and recreation areas.
  • Currently the recreation facilities at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam are closed after suffering damage from Hurricane Ian.
  • All recreation facilities at the St. Lucie Lock are closing, including the campground, day use area, and visitor centers. A reopening date will be determined after the storm has passed and any damage can be assessed.
  • All other campgrounds and recreation facilities managed by the Corps of Engineers in Florida are still open.
  • If a county government issues an evacuation order for mobile homes or RV parks in an area where there is a Corps’ campground or recreational facility, rangers will order an evacuation of the facility and advise on shelter locations. 
  • Visitors should move all campers, motor homes, tents, vessels, and trailers from facilities under evacuation orders.
  • Campers will receive refunds for any cancelled camping reservations through the reservation system contractor. For more information on refunds, guests can go to www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777.
  • Campers should monitor https://www.recreation.gov for reopening information.

Banana River FUDS Program Postponed

  • The safety of the community is a priority for USACE’s Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Program.
  • Due to the likelihood of inclement weather from Tropical Storm Nicole, USACE is canceling the drop-in meeting for the former Naval Air Station Banana River Off-Base Disposal Area scheduled for Nov. 9 at the Pelican Beach Club House.
  • USACE will announce future opportunities to meet with the project team later.
  • For questions, e-mail them to FUDS.Florida@usace.army.mil or call 800-710-5184.