Brevard bridges reopen to Barrier Island; 200,000 without power after Hurricane Mathew

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – After Hurricane Matthew whipped through Brevard County on Friday all causeway bridges reopened letting traffic through to the Barrier Island. 

The Pineda Causeway, the Eau Gallie Causeway and the Melbourne Causeway bridges were open for traffic  to the island as of 2:30 p.m. Friday, according to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Sheriff Ivey told News 6 reporter Erik Sandoval that it was Devine intervention that spared the Space Coast from devastation.

The rest of the bridges are now open after the Florida Department of Transportation examined them for structural integrity, according to FHP Sgt. Kim Montes. 

[WATCH LIVE: News 6 wall-to-wall Hurricane Matthew coverage | MORE: Track power outages ]

Titusville police said the Blue Beach Club in the 2500 block of South Washington Avenue was evacuated after the roof collapsed. The National Guard was assisting in the relocation of residents to shelters.

Police said the Blue Beach Club Apartments have been condemned and one person suffered minor injuries.

More than 200,000 customers, or one-third of Florida Power and Light customers in Brevard County,  are without power. FPL has 304,400 customers in the Brevard County area, 200,890 customers of whom are without power.

Residents lost power after the Category 3 storm drew into the coast, bringing winds of more than 100 mph.

A precautionary boil-water notice ws issued for all Melbourne residents south of Pineda Causeway including Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic and Melbourne Beach, according to the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center. More information here.

Cocoa police tweeted out that water on south River Road from Hurricane Matthew is making the road not passable. Multiple power lines are down and debris is in the roadways with traffic signals out.

An extreme wind warning was issued for Port Canaveral and Cape Canaveral with gusts up to 115 mph as the outer eye wall of the hurricane approached. 

A wind gust of 103 mph was recorded just after 7:30 a.m. on Friday at Playalinda Beach. Gov. Rick Scott said between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. a wind gust of 107 mph occurred at Cape Canaveral.

The Kennedy Space Center tweeted that Matthew passed KSC with sustained wind of 90 mph and gusts of 107 mph.

NASA reported what appeared to be mostly minor damage at Kennedy Space Center. An office building suffered some roof damage, and parked cars were damage as well. NASA spokesman George Diller, part of the 116-person rideout crew, said there have been some spotty power outages on site, and a loss of air conditioning and water pressure in spots.

News 6 reporter Mark Lehman watched a transformer explode in the strong winds of Hurricane Matthew in Cocoa Beach.

In addition, authorities said live power lines were down or arcing in the county.

Meanwhile, homes were boarded up along the Indian River in Brevard County as officials urged coastal residents to evacuate.

Officials said 4,650 evacuees were housed in 15 Brevard County shelters that opened as Hurricane Matthew churned near Florida.

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Stores on Brevard County's barrier islands started boarding up and closing down Wednesday afternoon as residents rushed out to get last-minute supplies in advance of Hurricane Matthew.

“I think we are going to be OK. Anxious, of course,” said J.B. Olds, a Cocoa Beach resident who is riding out the storm.

“It's concerning, yeah, but we have rental properties here so we want to make sure they are safe, so we've been checking in with them.”

FHP and Brevard Emergency Operations Center officials said they have been flooded with phone calls from residents asking if they will be able to return to their homes after the mandatory evacuation.

FHP officials said they will not prevent anyone from going east if they need to get home, but they want people to get off the barrier island and Merritt Island before the storm hits.

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Brevard County schools, government offices and courthouse were closed Thursday and Friday.

Cape Canaveral Hospital began moving patients Tuesday to Holmes Regional and Viera Hospital. Gates to Cape Canaveral Hospital were closed to new patients at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Officials said surgeries for later in the week will be rescheduled. Health centers are closed hrough the week. To find the location of a patient, call 321-434-7000.

All cruise ships and tankers have found safe harbor and will not be conducting operations out of Port Canaveral. Officials said the Victory Casino cruise line will seek safe harbor elsewhere. Marinas along the port have also been closed.

[RELATED: Port Canaveral CEO issues evacuation order for landside operations]

The Melbourne International Airport closed Thursday after the last commercial departure.

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