King tides arrive before downtown's nearly $20 million seawall is done
What the king tides mean for your drive, plus two free gatherings later this month on West Castillo Drive.
Friday's report had the king tides lingering right through today, Oct. 13. If your usual street is underwater, the city's ask is simple: take a different one, and if you truly can't, go slow.
Friday's report put the high tide at about 5½ feet, a bit before 8:15 a.m. As of that report, king tides were expected to last through today, Oct. 13, and it also warned that rough weather from the outer edges of Hurricane Isaias could pile on more flooding.
The city's advice is short. If a road is flooded, pick another way. If there's truly no other choice, slow down. A vehicle pushing through standing water kicks up waves that can shove water onto neighbors' property and toward houses. Salt water can also wreck a car.
The long-term fix isn't ready. FDOT's seawall replacement downtown, a project costing nearly $20 million, began in June between the Bridge of Lions and Charlotte Street. One aim is better protection for A1A during king tides like these, but crews aren't expected to wrap up until next fall.
UF Health's 99-bed Durbin Park hospital is open
UF Health built its newest hospital from the ground up in northern St. Johns County instead of buying one. The first stage covers 42.5 acres about 60 miles from the Gainesville home campus, and the doors opened last month.
The system grew differently before. In December 2019, it announced a deal for two Central Florida Health hospitals, one in Leesburg and one in The Villages. Then in 2023 it bought Flagler Health+ here in St. Augustine.
Size is the worry for critics. Aaron Plotke of Families USA, a consumer advocacy group, says big systems lean on their size to win higher prices from insurers, costs that can reach patients. His May 2026 analysis found Florida hospitals bill commercial insurers more than triple what Medicare pays. UF Health says its rates are "competitive with most community hospitals." The Florida Hospital Association counters that rising costs push hospitals into bigger systems, where small ones gain specialists they couldn't hire alone.
Ancient City Kids Day turns 30 at Francis Field
- When
- Saturday, Oct. 24 · 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where
- Francis Field
- Price
- Free
Live entertainment runs all day, and kids can grab a free shirt and goodie bag while supplies last. The festival fills Francis Field on Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with no charge to get in. Booths from youth groups also point families to local programs and resources. Food and drinks will be sold. The city isn't behind this one. A coalition of community groups, including St. Augustine Youth Services and the county library system, organizes it.
Out of the Darkness walk heads to West Castillo Drive
- When
- Sunday, Oct. 25 · Noon to 1 p.m.
- Where
- 25 W. Castillo Dr.
- Address
- 25 W. Castillo Dr.
- Price
- Free registration
Walkers receive honor beads that mark their own tie to the cause, and the event is meant in part to honor loved ones. It runs noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 25 W. Castillo Dr., with an opening ceremony and community resource tables. It's an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention event; the city does not sponsor it.