Chamber Blog

As we all know by now, Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday afternoon as a powerful Category 4 storm, hitting the southwest coast of Florida at Cayo Costa near Fort Myers and Cape Coral. This devastating storm has caused loss of life, left 2.5 million Floridians without power and countless communities under water. Our thoughts and prayers are with…

CITY OF LAKELAND HURRICANE IAN RESTORATION EFFORTS THURSDAY, SEPT. 29 – AFTERNOON UPDATE – 2:30PM The City of Lakeland is now in restoration mode from Hurricane Ian.  City facilities will remain closed on Friday, September 30th for non-essential employees. The EOC is now closed, and all restoration efforts will now be manned from each respective Department.  Lakeland…

THURSAY, SEPT. 29 – MORNING UPDATE (9:15AM) City crews are performing damage assessments and Lakeland Electric is restoring power as quickly and safely as possible. Assessment teams are on the ground and street clearing crews are clearing the roadways from debris and downted trees. At 9:00 a.m. we are reporting 63,500 customers without power.  At…

Bartow, Fla. (September 29, 2022) — Beginning Friday, September 30, all Polk County residents with questions regarding hurricane debris are advised to call the Hurricane Ian Debris Hotline at (800) 375-0844. This is the only number that will be able to provide answers for all debris-related questions. Polk County’s Waste & Recycling Division does not collect and…

Bartow, Fla. (September 28, 2022) – Tragic incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning are starting to emerge. This highlights the importance of generator safety. Portable generators are useful during power outages, but improper use can be risky and tragic. The most common dangers associated with portable generators are carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shock or electrocution and fire…

Bartow, Fla. (September 28, 2022) — After Hurricane Ian leaves Polk, massive cleanup efforts begin. If you were not severely affected by the storm and you wish to volunteer to assist with disaster recovery, please go to www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=774342003 and complete the Disaster Volunteer Application. Volunteer requests will not go out until after the storm passes and Emergency Management…

Bartow, Fla. (September 28, 2022) — Polk County Utilities is asking residents for help in limiting the amount of water used during and after the storm. This will help reduce sanitary sewer backups caused by the loss of power in your area. We ask that you: Turn off your outdoor irrigation systems if you have them…

Bartow, Fla. (September 28, 2022) — County Manager Bill Beasley announced today that all Board of County Commission offices will remain closed for business on Friday, September 30. Offices will reopen on Monday, October 3, 2022. The Board’s Agenda Review Meeting, scheduled for Friday, has been moved to Monday, October 3 at 9:00 a.m. in the…

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 — Polk State College’s campuses and centers will remain closed through Friday due to Hurricane Ian. This includes collegiate high schools, dual enrollment, and online classes. The College’s Emergency Management Team will continue to meet daily to determine if closures need to be modified or extended. Updates will be provided on polk.edu…

Our team continues to work with the Emergency Operations Center staff and county agencies to monitor Hurricane Ian’s progress. There are several factors that we take into account when making decisions regarding school closures. These include: – Shelter needs and the ability for residents to return to their homes following the storm. – Ensuring enough…