Update:
Cleanup efforts continued Friday after officers reopened the Merrill P. Barber and Alma Lee Loy bridges as Hurricane Milton, now a post-tropical cyclone, diffused into the Atlantic Ocean. The bridges were reopened at 1:48 p.m. Thursday, said Kelsea Callahan, a spokesperson for the Vero Beach Police Department.
But, first responders urged motorists to still avoid heading to the barrier island except for essential travel.
“There is still quite a bit of debris and lines down so motorists should limit traveling in that area to allow crews and residents space to clean up,” said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The emergency services department was still fully activated Friday in response to cleaning up the mess Milton trailed on the barrier island and the mainland, Jaworski said. Indian River County had four confirmed tornadoes that emerged on Wednesday, tossing large trees into roadways, toppling railroad crossing arms and knocking out power to thousands of residents.
Two people were injured, but no fatalities were reported for Indian River County, emergency service officials said. First responders removed most of the debris from roadways on Thursday, Jaworski said.
Sheriff’s Capt. Joe Abollo, a spokesperson for the agency, said flooding had receded in most areas in the county by Friday morning.
Earlier story:
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Authorities closed the Merrill P. Barber Bridge and Alma Lee Loy Bridge in both directions Wednesday evening in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. Law enforcement officials shut down east and westbound lanes on the bridges about 6:45 p.m., said Kelsea Callahan, a spokesperson for the Vero Beach Police Department.
“Due to safety concerns related to flooding and downed power lines, the Barber and 17th Street bridges are temporarily closed,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement. “First responders are assessing damage and assisting with any necessary evacuations. Please avoid the area and allow emergency crews to work.”
Police said only first responders will cross the bridges. Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers earlier said the bridges would close when sustained wind gusts reach 45 mph.
The Wabasso Bridge remains open, said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Hurricane Milton was expected to slam Florida’s Gulf Coast sometime Wednesday evening and continue pushing toward the east coast. Milton, a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph maximum sustained winds, was traveling northeast at 15 mph, according to a 6 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.