Updated at 11 p.m. Sunday. Total number still without power is 97,32
Bridges throughout Jacksonville have reopened, and the process of restoring power to more than 200,000 residences has begun following Hurricane Matthew, said city officials.
“We still encourage people, if you don’t have to travel, don’t go around and sight see,” said Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams during a news conference Saturday at the Emergency Operations Center. “We still have a lot of workers in the street … trying to restore services. “If you don’t have to go anywhere, don’t.”
Currently 97,332 residents remain without power. JEA representative Ted Hobson said there's no timetable for the return of service.
"We have experienced significant electric system outages — we're talking poles and transformers and wire wrapped around trees lying on the ground," he said. "... Because of the high number of outages and the significant damage to the electrical system, restoration times are not known."
One fatality was reported, but Williams declined to say if the death was storm related.
Williams added there were 14 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning due to an improper use of generators.
"As people fire up generators in the dsays to come while they're waiting on power restoration, please keep those generators outside the home," he said. "Fourteen last night is way too many — especially in only a few hours after the storm."
The National Weather Service has advised that even though Matthew has moved away from the area, flooding is expected to continue around the St. Johns River for at least a week.
Jacksonville remains under a State of Emergency. Mayor Lenny Curry has lifted the evacuation order for zones A, B, and C effective noon today.
The following Intracoastal Waterway bridges are open: Atlantic Boulevard Intracoastal Waterway Bridge Beach Boulevard Intracoastal Waterway Bridge JTB Intracoastal Waterway Bridge Note: The Wonderwood bridge remains closed.
Digital Content Editor Vince Kong can be reached at vkong@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter @teamvincek
BELOW | An updated list of outages throughout the state.