ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Three Northeast Florida Counties entered a State of Emergency Saturday afternoon as Milton builds up steam in the Gulf - Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns.
Businesses in downtown St. Augustine just got through Hurricane Helene, and now they’re right back in the teeth of it with another storm coming through.
“It’s a bit wary because, around here, you can’t really tell how bad it’s going to be until it’s already happening, so we’re just going to do what we can to prepare for the worst," said Mayita Server Landon Dedman.
Dedman just finished taking the sandbags away from Mayita in downtown St. Augustine after Hurricane Helene.
But with Milton on the way, he may have to get them right back out.
This will make three hurricanes in the first season on Avenida Menendez, but the silver lining is that Mayita hasn’t seen any water get inside yet.
“With the hurricanes we’ve gone through, it hasn’t been too heavily affected on this side of the area," Dedman said.
Not only is it Dedman’s first hurricane season at Mayita, but Milton will be the first storm he’ll go through in his new RV.
“We got pushed off because of Helene, but we just got done and we’re moved into it now," Dedman said. "Fingers crossed and we’re hoping for the best.”
While Dedman gets his RV ready, Spinster Abbott’s Bartender Lili Ogeka is fielding text from folks scheduled to come stay at her rental properties.
“If this one does come across the state, I do think it’ll push back some of the rentals, and I do have people that are nervous about traveling down here, which I do understand," said Ogeka. "It really depends on the direction.”
Ogeka will have one eye on her rental property during the storm and another on Spinster Abbott’s because San Marco Avenue is prone to flooding, like it did during a nor’easter in December.
“Then I feel like I can’t complain because I do live in Florida, it’s part of it," Ogeka said.
Ogeka mentioned she had some evacuees from the Perry area stay at her rental during Hurricane Helene.
She said whether they're back again this week will depend on what track Milton decides to take.