WINTER PARK, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott received a full update on Hurricane Irma from the State Emergency Operations Center. The Governor is continuing to travel the state today to meet with local officials, ensure communities have all the resources they may need, and to encourage families and visitors to be fully prepared. The Governor will continue to be in constant communication with state and local emergency management officials, city and county leaders, and utility officials who are also working to ensure the state is prepared to respond to any potential impacts from Hurricane Irma.
EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS BY STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
WATCHES AND WARNING –
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Volusia/Brevard county line southward around the Florida peninsula to the Suwannee River, including the Florida Keys and Tampa Bay.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for north of the Volusia/Brevard county line to the Florida/Georgia Border and on the west coast north of the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect from the Florida/Georgia southward around the Florida peninsula to the Aucilla River, including Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Tampa Bay.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for areas west of the Aucilla River to Indian Pass.
Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for areas west of Indian Pass to the Okaloosa/Walton County line.
EVACUATIONS
Though the below evacuation orders are current and in effect, everyone should check with their local emergency management office or website for the most up to date information regarding evacuation as they are constantly being updated.
DEM estimates that 6.3 million Floridians have been ordered to evacuate.
While Col. Jason Kirk with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Corps. have assured the Governor that the structural integrity of the Dike will not be compromised, Governor Scott ordered mandatory evacuations in the cities surrounding the southern half of Lake Okeechobee from Lake Port to Canal Point in Hendry, Palm Beach and Glades counties. This decision was made due to Governor Scott’s sole focus on life safety as Hurricane Irma approaches Florida. The seven cities affected by these orders are as follows:
o South Bay
o Lake Harbor
o Pahokee
o Moore Haven
o Clewiston
o Belle Glade
o Canal Point
Brevard – mandatory evacuations for Zone A, Merritt Island, barrier islands, and some low-lying mainland areas along Indian River Lagoon
Broward – mandatory East of Federal Highway including barrier islands
Charlotte – voluntary evacuations for Don Pedro Island, Knight Island (Palm Island), Little Gasparilla Island, Manosota Key, all mobile homes
Citrus – mandatory evacuations for residents west of Hwy 19, 1 and ½ miles east of Hwy 19 excluding Sugarmill Woods. This also includes all of the city of Crystal River, all low lying areas throughout the entire county and anyone residing in mobile homes, manufactured homes and all unsafe structures throughout the entire county
Collier – mandatory evacuations for Goodland, Everglades City, Chokoloskee, all mobile homes
Desoto- voluntary evacuations for people in low-lying/flood prone areas, residents living in mobile homes and RV parks
Flagler – mandatory evacuations for nursing homes, all varieties of assisted living facilities, and community residential group homes within coastal and Intracoastal areas and voluntary for zones A, B, C, F; mandatory for Zones A,B,C,F, and substandard housing beginning on Saturday
Glades – mandatory evacuations for areas around Lake Okeechobee (Lakeport, Moorehaven, Washington Park, Benbow and Uncle Joe’s Motel and Campground). Also mandatory for residents in Zone A and anyone in an RV park, mobile home or building constructed before 1992.
Hardee – voluntary evacuations for low-lying areas, mobile homes, and port structures
Hendry – voluntary evacuations for low-lying areas, non-slab-built homes, mobile homes, trailers and RVs, mandatory for areas near Lake Okeechobee (Clewiston, Hookers Point, Harlem, Flaghole, Montura Ranch Estates, Mid-County MSBU which inlcudes Ladeca, Pioneer Plantation and Leon-Dennis Subdivision, Al Don Farming Road)
Hernando – mandatory evacuations for Zones A and B and mobile homes
Highlands – voluntary for low areas and mobile/manufactured homes
Hillsborough – voluntary for special-needs residents in Evacuation Zone A.
Indian River – voluntary evacuations for barrier islands, low-lying areas, mandatory for Saturday
Lee – mandatory for Cape Coral west of Burnt Store Road and south of Cape Coral Parkway, east of Del Prado Boulevard to Viscaya Parkway, North Fort Myers south of Bay Shore Road from Moody Road to State Road 31 and areas south of North River Road from State Road 31 to Fichters Creek, areas of Iona south of Maple Drive, west of U.S. 41, San Carlos Park west of U.S. 41, Estero west of U.S. 41, north of the Estero River, Bonita Springs communities along Estero Bay and the Imperial River Basin, all of the barrier islands.
Manatee – voluntary evacuations for Zone A and mobile homes.
Martin – mandatory evacuations for barrier islands, manufactured homes, and low-lying areas beginning Saturday
Miami-Dade – mandatory evacuations for all of Zone A, all of Zone B, and portions of Zone C. Miami Dade residents can find their zones by clicking HERE.
Monroe – mandatory evacuations for visitors and residents. A dedicated transportation hotline is available specifically for individuals in the Keys at 305-517-2480
Pasco – mandatory evacuations for residents living west of U.S. 19. Also mandatory for residents living north of Fox Hollow Drive west of Little Rd. and south of Fox Hollow Drive west of Regency Park Blvd./Rowan Rd./Seven Springs Blvd. Special needs residents, and those living in manufactured homes, mobile homes, RV’s, and anyone living in a low-lying area or an area prone to flooding are also under mandatory evacuation. Voluntary evacuations for residents living south of Fox Hollow Drive to the south county line between Regency Park Blvd./Rowan Rd./Seven Springs Blvd. and Little Rd.
Palm Beach – mandatory evacuations for Zone A and B, voluntary for Zone C and Lake Zone E (Canal Point, Belle Glade, and Pahokee)
Pinellas – mandatory evacuations all mobile home and Zone A
Sarasota – voluntary evacuations in Zone A (Longboat, Lido, Siesta, Casey Key, Manasota Key, Venice Island), all mobile homes
St. Lucie – mandatory north and south Hutchinson Island, low-lying areas, manufactured homes
Additional evacuations are expected throughout the state. All Floridians should pay close attention to local alerts and follow the directions of local officials.
SHELTERS
More than 320 shelters are open throughout Florida with a total population of more than 54,000 individuals. This number is being updated throughout the day.
Visit floridadisaster.org/shelters/summary.aspx to find information on shelters in your area. This site is being updated as shelters open throughout the day.
Shelters are continuing to open across the state, including shelters for people with special needs, pets and general populations. DOH is coordinating the set up and staffing for special needs shelters. To find information about available shelter information by county, floridadisaster.org/shelters.
FEMA is also hosting shelter information on its mobile app which can be found at fema.gov/mobile-app.
POWER AND UTILITIES
The current power outage as of 11 a.m. is 24,843. For a full breakdown, visit http://floridadisaster.org/info/outage_reports/latest.pdf
The state is coordinating with utilities to identify potential fuel, equipment, lodging or resource needs as utility providers stage assets to help restore power as quickly as possible following the storm. Approximately 24,000 restoration personnel have been activated to help restore power as quickly as possible following the storm’s impact.
Duke Energy Florida is mobilizing approximately 7,000 lineworkers, tree professionals, damage assessment and support personnel to safe locations prepared to respond to outages once Hurricane Irma reaches Florida.
Florida Power and Light has activated its emergency response plan and has thousands of workers preparing to respond to Irma. FPL is also working with out-of-state utilities and electrical contracting companies to secure additional resources and has opened more than 20 staging sites throughout the state, where restoration crews, trucks and equipment are stationed.
FPL will be begin powering down Turkey Point Nuclear Plant at midnight tonight.
STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER/ CONTACT INFORMATION
The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at a level one, which is a full-scale, 24-hours-a-day activation.
The Florida Emergency Information Line has been activated and is available 24/7 for families and victors at 1-800-342-3557.
Floridians can text FLPREPARES to 888777 in order to receive text alerts from FDEM.
The media line is 850-921-0217.
Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Hurricane Irma.
Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.
On Monday, Governor Scott issued Executive Order 17-235 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties within the State of Florida.
MILITARY SUPPORT
Governor Scott has activated the entire force of the Florida Army and Air National Guard – 7,000 guard members – to support with planning, and logistics operations in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Irma. These members are stationing across the state and actively assisting with preparation efforts. The Florida National Guard has 1,000 high water vehicles, 13 helicopters, 17 boats and more than 700 generators on standby.
The Florida National Guard is coordinating a multi-state response focused on planning and preparation of thousands of forces available to enhance security and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. States that have deployed troops or are positioning support include North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Connecticut, Mississippi and New Jersey.
The Florida National Guard is coordinating with the National Guard Bureau to identify approximately 30,000 troops, 4,000 trucks, 100 helicopters, and air evacuation crews that are standing by for Hurricane Irma support, if needed.
The Florida National Guard is currently engaged in more than 100 shelter missions across the state.