Columbia County officials provide information about Helene’s recovery efforts, free food and laundry services

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Columbia County officials held a meeting Sunday to discuss recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.

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Officials said the Red Cross will give away meals at four locations:

• Deep Creek Community Center

• Richardson Community Center

• Fort White Community Center

• Winfield Community Center

People at the Winfield Community Center said they were thrilled the Red Cross was distributing food.

People will also have the opportunity to shower, do laundry and use toilets.

Clarence Jett and others without electricity took advantage of the free laundry facility in Winfield.

He said he didn’t have clean work clothes before the power went out.

Maenell Bailey said it felt great that she could take a hot shower while his power was out.

“I should be able to sleep well at night,” Bailey said.

Electric companies are working to restore power to the area.

Clay Electric hopes to have power restored to 98% of its customers by Tuesday. This excludes the Three Rivers area. They hope power will be restored Wednesday evening or Thursday.

FPL said it hopes to have power restored to 95% of its customers by the end of Monday.

Suwannee Valley Electric and Duke hope to restore service to their customers in the next few days.

A state rapid assessment team was in the area Sunday and a local team will be in the area Monday.

The emergency operations center director said it was an important step in recovery efforts.

“Hopefully we can get a PA declaration and also an IA declaration and then get to be included in that FEMA declaration so that residents can then ask for reimbursements for Hurricane Helene,” Shayne Morgan said.

Morgan said it was important that any damage in the area be reported. You can do this by calling the hotline at 386-719-7530.