(WFLA) – The director of Polk County’s Emergency Management department held the first of Friday’s two scheduled press conferences to discuss post-Milton cleanup efforts and safety precautions for residents.

Paul Womble, Polk County’s Emergency Management Director, said emergency crews worked overnight to conduct “some water rescues” after the area was inundated with 12 to 16 inches of rainfall during the storm.

“Yesterday was about response, search and rescue, life safety. … We’re focusing today on really several things,” Womble said.

On today’s agenda, Womble said crews will be out clearing roads and collecting debris — and urged homeowners to heed instructions to sort and stack any trash or vegetative debris so as not to interfere with the county’s cleanup efforts.

Linemen and other infrastructure crews are also working around the clock to restore service after “50 percent of the county, at least, was without power” after Milton, Womble said.

He also told locals they may see county assessors in their neighborhoods “en masse” as they work to survey the damage and report it to the appropriate agencies for aid from state or federal programs.

Many residents who were displaced to shelters during the hurricane have since returned to their homes, Womble added, adding that there were only a “handful” of people still in the county’s shelters. Several would remain open Friday, Womble said.

Those who are out and about in Polk County, meanwhile, are still urged to heed current traffic protocol at intersections without power (treat all intersections as four-way stops, essentially) and to be wary of downed trees, debris or power lines in flooded roadways.

“It’s getting better, but there are still areas where it’s very unsafe,” Womble said. “Please stay out of the flood waters.”

Womble directed those with questions to the official Polk County website. Additional information can be found online at Polk County TV.

Officials will be giving further updates at a 4:30 press conference.