Staff report| Treasure Coast Newspapers
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Hurricane Nicole made landfall just south of Vero Beach about 3 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It hadmaximum sustained winds of about 75 mphand brought higher gusts and strong rain, officials said. It was downgraded to a tropical storm shortly after landfa
Initial reports indicated the storm caused severe beach erosion overnight, flooding and downed trees across Indian River County. Nicoleknocked out power to thousands of homesthroughout the Treasure Coast.
Storm photos: See post-storm photos from across the Treasure Coast
Live updates Thursday: Treasure Coast takes direct hit; power outages, damage reported
10:30 p.m.| Nearly all power restored
Since Florida Power & Light Co.'s 7 p.m. update,about a thousand more of its customers here got their lights back on.
As of 10 p.m., the company reported only 560 of its 99,710 customers in the county were still without power, according to its outage map. An estimated timeframe for complete power restoration would be announced Friday, according to its website.
7:30 p.m.| Power restoration
Florida Power & Light Co. reported 1,660 of its 99,710 customers in Indian River County were still without power Thursday evening, according to its outage map, which was last updated 7 p.m.
That's down from about 18,000 customers who were without power this morning.
The Indian River County Emergency Operations Center asked that residents and business owners report any storm damagehere. For questions orfurther assistance from the county, call772-226-3900.
5:45 p.m.| Alma Lee Loy opens
Vero Beach Police reported the 17th Street, or Alma Lee Loy, Bridge had been reopened as of 3:30 p.m. It was closed since 7 a.m. due to flooding.
Indian River Countyreported another road closure: North and South Jungle Trails will beclosed until further notice due to flooding.
4 p.m.| Open for business
Hurricane Nicole caused minor flooding at the Riverside Cafe in Vero Beach.
“It wasn’t that bad this time,” said David Lane, co-owner of the restaurant. “Today it was probably 6 inches.”
Lane’s restaurant, which is on the Indian River Lagoon, was flooded with water when high tide rolled inat about5 a.m., he said.
But Riverside has seen as much as 3 feet of water during past storms, he said.Still, six inches was enough to close the restaurant for half a day while he and a team of 20 employees power washed the grime, plants and fish the lagoon left behind.
“It’s a nuisance, because the water covers all the way into my office, the bathrooms, the whole kitchen… everything,” he said.
By3 p.m., the restaurant looked as if the water was never even there — minus some minor damage to part of its dock.To Lane’s surprise, Riverside was all set to reopenat 4 p.m.He expected a big post-hurricane crowd.
More: Hurricane Nicole damaged some Treasure Coast waterfront restaurants. What's open and closed?
“We’re used to it here at Riverside,” Lane said.
Just down the lagoon, thedock at Indian River County Fire Rescue Station 2 didn't fare quite as well. It was broken and still half-submerged in the lagoon as of3:30 p.m.
Riverside Cafe cleared of 6 inches of flood water following Hurricane Nicole
Vero Beach’s Riverside Cafe saw 6 inches of flooding following Hurricane Nicole. Down the lagoon, an Indian River County fire station dock was still flooded
Thomas Weber, Treasure Coast Newspapers
3:30 p.m.| Checking out the damage
As some beaches reopened for observation — swimming is not allowed yet atany county beaches, according to anews release —a few dozen people gathered to check out the damage.
Some gathered atConn Beachto take a look at the collapsed boardwalk.Erosion north ofJaycee Beach causedserious structural damage, too, as part of the Ocean Club collapsed into the sand.
3:15 p.m.| Some beaches, parks reopen
Indian River County parks and facilities are beginning to reopen.
Here are the latestopenings and closures, including updated hours through the weekend,according to a news release from county spokesperson Kathy Copeland:
Beaches
- Open for observation only;no swimming:Ambersands Beach Park, Treasure Shores Beach Park, Seagrape Beach Access, Turtle Trail Beach Accessand Round Island Beach Park
- Closed until further notice:Wabasso Beach Park and Tracking Station Beach Park. Both sustained serious damage, according to the news release
- To reopen soon:Goldensands Beach Park. Sustained minor damage, according to the news release
Inland parks
- All inland parks to reopen at sunrise Friday
- Donald MacDonaldCampground to reopenFriday
Boat ramps
- Reopening Friday, sunrise to sunset:Dale Wimbrow Boat Ramp, Donald MacDonald Boat Rampand Round Island Riverside Park Boat Ramp
- Closed until further notice:Wabasso Causeway Boat Ramp. Itreceived serious damage, according to the news release
Other
- Indian River County Fairgrounds: Resumes normal operations Saturday.Open for the Art & Craft Expoat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday through Sunday
- Sandridge Golf Course: Resumes normal hours Friday.
- North County Aquatic Center and Gifford Aquatic Center:Resumes normal hours 10 a.m. Friday.Splash Pad at Gifford Aquatic Center will be closed for repairs until further notice.
- Indian River County Shooting Range: Resumes normal hours 9 a.m. Saturday.
- Intergenerational (iG) Recreation Center:Resumes normalhoursMonday.
10 a.m.| Tropical-storm warning lifted
The National Weather Service has lifted itstropical storm advisory for Indian River County.Ryan Lloyd, county emergency management coordinator, made the announcement at a Thursday-morning briefing.
Nonetheless, officials urged driversto stay off the roads sincerain and wind are still prevalent in the area. Coastal flood warnings remain as sea levels are expected to be 2 to 3 feet above normal levels as Nicole leaves the coastal region.
9:40 a.m.| Road flooding
Vero Beach police are telling drivers to avoid the intersection of Royal Palm and Indian River boulevards—around the First Presbyterian Church Vero Beach— due to flooding.
Police advise taking alternate routes.
9:30 a.m.| Publix reopens
After closing early on Wednesday as Tropical Storm Nicole approached, Publix stores across the county reopened Thursday.
And while the store at Miracle Mile in Vero Beach was open Thursday morning, there were few customer.
The parking lot was only about one-third full, a sharp contrast to the pre-Nicole crowds. Inside, it was business as usual with short lines. There also was plenty of bagged ice available for people who still are without power.
8:31 a.m. | Damage at Conn Beach
Conn Beach Boardwalk experiences damage after Hurricane Nicole
The Conn Beach Boardwalk experienced more structural damage through the night after Hurricane Nicole made landfall on the Treasure Coast
Kaila Jones, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Conn Beach took a hit from Hurricane Nicole, butresident Dave Hunter said the damage could have been worse.
In previous storms, the road has been washed out and boardwalk completely collapsed, he said. That didn’t happen this time.The concrete pilings the city put up held the boardwalk, Hunter said.
“That is really a blessing,” he said. “It looks bad. (but) they reinforced it last time and it’s holding up pretty good.”
Hunter said the area fared well compared to other places.
“We missed what could have happened,” he said. “Vero made it through with rainbows.”
8:18 a.m. | Restoring power
Florida Power & Light crews are working this morning to restore power to nearly 18,000 customers in Indian River County.
The company said about 18% of its 99,710 customers here— or17,680 customers— remained in the dark after losing power when Hurricane Nicole rolled through early this morning.
Flooding near Vero Beach County Club after Hurricane Nicole
Flooding off the canals near the Vero Beach Country Club captured by resident John Hinton on Nov. 10 the morning of Hurricane Nicole.
Treasure Coast Newspapers
7:45 a.m.| County bridges reopened
After being closedfor about fours as Hurricane Nicole moved through Indian River County, all bridges reopened early this morning, according to county spokesperson Kathy Copeland.
The bridges were closed from about midnight and reopened just after 4:30 a.m., she said.
Nicole moved through the area about 3 a.m., making landfall just south of Vero Beach before it weakened to a tropical storm.
7:20 a.m.| Wabasso Causeway still flooded
Wabasso Causeway Park sees flooding after Tropical Storm Nicole hits
Heavy winds blowing from the south at Wabasso Causeway Park the morning after Hurricane Nicole made landfall on the Treasure Coast
Kaila Jones, Treasure Coast Newspapers
7 a.m. | Alma Lee Loy Bridge remains closed
The Alma Lee Loy, or 17th Street, Bridge remains closed this morning because of flooding, according to Vero Beach police.
Police are recommending drivers use the Merrill P. Barber, or State Road 60,bridge for traveling to or from the barrier island.
6:47 a.m.| Beaches still closed
6 a.m. | Fellsmere initial damage report
Fellsmere officials report no major damage across the city. There is a small tree blocking N. Pine Street north of County Road 512.
5 a.m. | Bridges open
Indian River County said bridges are open across the county.
3 a.m. | Hurricane Nicole makes landfall in Vero Beach
Landfall: 3 a.m. Thursday just south of Vero Beach
Winds: Estimated sustained 75 mph, Category 1 hurricane
Rain: 2-3 inches in last 24 hours
Be ready: How to download TCPalm's iPhone, Android apps for local updates on Tropical Storm Nicole
Spaghetti models: Check out these automatic updates of Nicole's possible path
Forecast track: Nicole's latest path
Excessive rainfall forecast: Rainfall expectations
