Commentary

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike update – September 9, 2008 – 2:15 p.m.

It is still not safe to be outside or to drive around in the storm

Monroe County officials urged people in the Keys to remain inside during current storm conditions. There are still very strong wind gusts in the Florida Keys and driving on rain-flooded streets may disable cars. Walking around outside during the storm can be very risky with flying debris and downed live power lines can be extremely dangerous.

U.S. Coast Guard officials stress that boaters should remain in port. Rough bay waters and extremely dangerous offshore seas can make boating deadly during storms.

Residents who evacuated the Keys should wait to return until after the tropical storm winds pass, which should be by Wednesday morning. Residents should keep a close eye on the storm as it passes and should monitor local radio and television stations for future announcements about when it is safe to return.

Both the Sheriff’s office Web site at www.keysso.net and Monroe County’s Web site at www.monroecounty-fl.gov will have details regarding when it is safe to return.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management Hurricane Ike update, September 9, 2008 - 9:45 a.m.

A tropical storm warning continues for the entire Florida Keys. The hurricane watch for the Keys was discontinued Monday afternoon.

According to meteorologists at the Key West National Weather Service Office, the Keys are experiencing the worst of the weather conditions right now. Sustained winds of about 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph is being reported throughout the Keys. Rainfall has been light. Weather conditions should begin to improve in the late afternoon.

Keys Emergency Management officials are urging residents to stay indoors, saying that flying debris and possible downed power lines make it dangerous to be outside. Emergency medical facilities are extremely limited and a quick response time is not guaranteed.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies urge people to stay off roads until conditions improve. Tuesday morning, a Publix tractor-trailer flipped at mile marker 72 on the Overseas Highway due to a heavy wind gust. The driver had only minor injuries. An auto accident at mile marker 27.7 has resulted in several power poles being knocked down. There are no reports in injuries as yet.

There has been some minor flooding on several Keys roads including mile marker 75 on the Overseas Highway in Islamorada and in Key West, South Roosevelt Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard and the southern ends of Duval, Simonton and Whitehead Streets.

The have been some minor power outages through the Keys, but Keys Energy and Florida Keys Electric Cooperative crews have quickly responded to them.

U.S. Coast Guard officials stress that boaters should remain in port. Rough bay waters and extremely dangerous offshore seas can make boating deadly during storms. Almost all of the Coast Guard’s rescue assets and personnel have prepared for the hurricane and may not be available for immediate response.

Key West and Florida Keys Marathon airports are closed and there are no commercial flights today. Given no significant impacts to the airport, Monroe County Airports Director Peter Horton anticipates commercial service to resume Wednesday afternoon or by Thursday morning.

Officials are insisting people that have evacuated to remain out of the Keys until Wednesday and an “all-clear” is given. Details are to be provided at www.keysso.net or www.monroecounty-fl.gov.

Officials anticipate that visitors should be able to return to the Keys Friday, perhaps on Thursday. The Florida Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com will provide a specific date when vacationers may return.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Update on current conditions
September 9, 2008 – 8:45 a.m.

Weather conditions are making it dangerous to be outside in some areas of the Keys. The Sheriff’s Office recommends people stay inside and wait until storm conditions pass. It is not safe to drive in current conditions, and flying debris and possible downed power lines make it dangerous to walk around outside as well.

· Deputies are reporting debris and water on the roadway at the 75 mile marker of Highway U.S. One, Sea Oats Beach.
· Water and debris is also reported in the area of South Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West
· A tree was reported down on Grassy Key, on Guava Avenue

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
September 8, 2008 – 3:30 p.m.

It is no longer safe to evacuate; residents should wait to return until storm is over

Residents who evacuated the Keys should wait to return until after the tropical storm winds pass, which should be by Wednesday morning.

There are no emergency services available in the Keys and hospitals are to remain closed until the storm is past.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office officials urged those in the Keys to remain inside during the storm. Driving on rain-flooded streets may disable cars and being outside can be very risky with flying debris and downed live power lines.

U.S. Coast Guard officials stress that boaters should remain in port. Rough bay waters and extremely dangerous offshore seas can make boating deadly during storms.

Residents should keep a close eye on the storm as it passes and should monitor local radio and television stations for future announcements about when it is safe to return. Both the Sheriff’s office Web site at www.keysso.net and Monroe County’s Web site at www.monroecounty-fl.gov will have details regarding when it is safe to return.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Clarification of release issued today at 11 a.m.

There seems to be some confusion about what we mean when we say “ the evacuation has expired”. The evacuation has NOT been canceled and it is NOT time for evacuees to return to the Keys. The safe time to evacuate has passed – our evacuation order for residents was in place from Sunday until Monday at noon because we wanted people to leave in time to avoid danger from the storm.

The most important points in our last press release are:

Residents who evacuated the Keys should wait to return until after the possibility of tropical storm winds is past, which should be by Wednesday morning.

There are no emergency services available in the Keys and hospitals are to remain closed until the storm is past.

U.S. Coast Guard officials stress that boaters should remain in port. Rough bay waters and extremely dangerous offshore seas can make boating deadly during storms.

Residents should keep a close eye on the storm as it approaches and should monitor local radio and television stations for future announcements about when it is safe to return. Both the Sheriff’s office Web site at www.keysso.net and Monroe County’s Web site at www.monroecounty-fl.gov will have details regarding when it is safe to return.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike – September 8, 2008 – 11 a.m.
Keys Evacuation Order to Expire at Noon

The mandatory resident evacuation order for Hurricane Ike, set to expire at noon today, will not be extended, Keys officials said Monday morning.

The current track of Hurricane Ike takes the core of the storm well south and west of the Keys and sustained hurricane force winds should miss the island chain, meteorologists at the National Weather Service Key West office said.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning continues for the entire Florida Keys, from Ocean Reef through the Dry Tortugas.

The outer bands of Ike may begin effecting the Florida Keys this afternoon, meteorologists said, bringing wind and rain as the storm continues to cross southern Cuba.

Forecasters anticipate the Lower Keys and Key West will experience sustained minimal to moderate tropical storm force winds beginning late Monday night and for most of Tuesday. In the Upper and Middle Keys winds should be just below tropical storm-force.

Expected squalls through the Keys during the storm might see winds a tropical storm force and occasional gusts nearing hurricane strength.

Officials counseled those residents who evacuated the Keys should wait to return until after the possibility of tropical storm winds is past, which should be by Wednesday morning, according to local meteorologists.

As many local medical personnel evacuated, there are no emergency services available in the Keys and hospitals are to remain closed until the storm is past.

Officials anticipate visitors, who were evacuated beginning Saturday, should be able to return by this weekend, if not a day or so before.

The Florida Keys tourism Web site at fla-keys.com will have details on the exact date for visitors to return after the storm passes by, which is expected to be Wednesday.

Monday September 8, 2008 Bus Schedule.pdf

Sunday September 7, 2008 Bus Schedule.pdf

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike update – September 7, 2008 – 4:45 p.m. update
Keys Evacuations Continue
… Pets Can Go With Owners to Miami Shelter

A mandatory resident evacuation for all the Florida Keys is in effect due to a possible threat from Hurricane Ike. The evacuation is likely to continue through Monday afternoon, prior to the arrival of tropical storm force winds in the Keys expected late Monday night or very early Tuesday morning.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reports very light traffic on the Overseas Highway and no delays. Officials are asking owners of all high-profile vehicles, including recreational vehicles and travel trailers, to depart the Keys.

Monroe County Emergency Management Director Irene Toner reports officials have worked out an agreement with Miami-Dade County so that Keys residents can evacuate with their pets to the Monroe shelter at Florida International University as long as the pet is properly caged. Toner said upon arrival at the shelter, Miami-Dade Animal Services will transport the pet to their facility and care for it there during the storm. Just prior to evacuees return to the Keys, Animal Services will bring the pet back to the FIU shelter to be reunited with it owner.

All Keys hospitals have closed.

U.S. Coast Guard officials are advising all boaters to stay off the water as the Coast Guard has scaled back equipment and personnel assets to prepare for the storm, thus there is a lack of resources to respond to emergencies.

Boat owners should be completing hurricane preparations to secure their vessels. All live-aboard boaters must evacuate their vessels, authorities said.

Monroe County Airports Director Peter Horton reports the last flight prior to the storm is to leave Key West International at 7:05 p.m. this evening. Rental car counters in Key West, still have some availability, and are to close at 10 p.m. The terminal at Florida Keys Marathon Airport has ceased operations. Both airfields are to close for general aviation sometime Monday afternoon, Horton said. The final Greyhound bus prior to the storm is to depart at 8:55 a.m. Monday.

Monroe County and the City of Key West have made arrangements for free roundtrip bus services to the FIU shelter for those that do not have their own transportation. Schedules are posted on the county’s Web site at www.monroecounty-fl.gov or on the County’s TV station on Comcast Cable Channel 76.

The City of Key West’s hurricane evacuation buses are to continue transportation services to the FIU shelter until 8 p.m. Sunday night and operate Monday from 7 a.m. to noon. Passengers interested in using the evacuation shuttle must be at one of the following stops before noon Monday to guarantee transportation:

-Douglass Gym, 111 Olivia Street, in Bahama Village
-Key West High School, 2100 Flagler Ave.
-Northside Drive behind Searstown
-Bernstein Park, 5th Avenue and 5th Street on Stock Island

More details on the Key West bus service is available at (305) 293-6426.

To assist visitors and residents needing to locate hotel rooms outside the Florida Keys, Visit Florida has established an online and operator-assisted hotel availability resource pool for evacuees. Go to www.visitflorida.com or call 1-800-287-8598.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike update – September 7, 2008 – 3 p.m.
Residents can take pets to FIU Shelter

Monroe County Emergency Management Officials have just worked out an agreement with Miami-Dade County Emergency Management to assist with Monroe County residents who need to take their pets with them to the shelter at Florida International University.

Residents with pets will be met at the shelter by a representative of a Miami based animal control representative. They will take custody of the pet(s) and take care of them for the duration of the storm. The pets will be returned to FIU once the storm has passed, before residents return to the county.

Pets will be allowed on county buses en route to the shelter at FIU if the pets are properly caged.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike update – 11:15 a.m.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for the entire Florida Keys from Ocean Reef south and west to the Dry Tortugas.

Keys resident and visitor evacuations are in progress. Evacuations for residents in the Lower Keys and Key West began at 8 a.m. Sunday. Start time for the Middle Keys including Marathon is at noon. Those residing in the Upper Keys, including Key Largo, Islamorada and mainland Monroe County, should depart beginning at 4 p.m. The evacuation is to continue at least through noon Monday.

Officials in Monroe County are monitoring the evacuation. A scan of Florida Department of Transportation traffic cameras late Sunday morning indicates traffic is flowing smoothly on the Overseas Highway.

Tolls on Card Sound Road have been lifted to assist in the movement of traffic out of the Keys. The Snake Creek drawbridge in Islamorada and the drawbridge at Jewfish Creek in Key Largo will no longer open for boat traffic to avoid any traffic delays.

Based on the storm’s current projected track, the Key West National Weather Service forecasts tropical storm force winds should begin impacting the Keys early Tuesday morning and lasting until late night Tuesday, or early Wednesday morning.

Based on the storm’s current projected track, Key West weather forecasters believe storm surge will not exceed four-and-a-half feet and could be less.

All Keys county and state parks are closed.

Keys hospital emergency rooms are to remain open until 7 a.m. Monday. They may remain open longer if there are enough personnel to man them.

The last commercial airline flight out of the Key West Airport is at 7 p.m. Sunday and there are still a few seats available. Rental car facilities are to remain open until 10 p.m. The Key West field, as well as the airfield at Florida Keys Marathon Airport, is to remain open for general aviation traffic until noon Monday.

There are still rental cars available at the Key West airport. They are to remain open for rentals as long as cars are available, or until the terminal closes at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Postal Service is closed and there is no access to post office boxes.

Monroe County public schools are closed Monday and Tuesday.

Check Monroe County's web site for bus schedules heading out of the Keys. The web site address is www.monroecounty-fl.gov.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike update - 8:00 a.m.
Keys Officials Continue Resident Evacuation Plans as Announced for Ike

After considering options, Florida Keys officials decided early Sunday to continue with a phased resident evacuation plan beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, preparing for Hurricane Ike.

Times and regions are as follows: Lower Keys and Key West at 8 a.m.; Middle Keys including Marathon at Noon; Upper Keys including Key Largo, Islamorada and mainland Monroe County at 4 p.m.

“While we realize the National Hurricane Center’s forecast track has shifted considerably to the south, we also know that most of the Keys are still in the forecast error cone,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi. “Given this is currently a Category 4 hurricane and a slight shift in the track to the north could bring very dangerous conditions to the Keys, we believe it’s prudent to continue the resident evacuation as originally planned.

“We do understand the inconvenience of evacuations for Keys residents and visitors, but their safety is our top priority,” he said. “It’s just too close to not react to it.”

Beginning at 8 a.m., the two drawbridges in Monroe County including Snake Creek and Jewfish Creek will not open for marine traffic (boats) to avoid any vehicular traffic (cars, etc.) delays.

ADDITIONAL HELP AND RESOURCES
Keys Visitors Assistance: (800) 771-KEYS
Visit Florida Hotel Hotline: (800) 287-8598
Monroe County Emergency Information: (800) 955-5504
Monroe County Situation Report: www.monroecounty-fl.gov
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office: www.keysso.net
County Public Access Television: Channel 76 on Comcast Cable
Key West Weather: www.weather.gov/keywest
National Hurricane Center Web site: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike update - September 6, 2008 - 3:30 p.m.

The Monroe County Office of Emergency Management has received some report about inaccurate information which they would like to correct.

There have been rumors that the mandatory evacuation for residents may be lifted for the middle and upper Keys due to Hurricane Ike taking a more southerly track than initially expected.

This is not true. The mandatory evacuation order for residents of the entire Florida Keys is still in place. Many people have already left, and anyone who has not yet gone are asked to leave beginning Sunday morning.

Keep in mind that, while Ike's projected path has moved slightly southward, the Florida Keys are still in the "cone of possibility" when it comes to a direct strike. If Ike's path deviates just slightly from the path predicted by the National Hurricane Center, the storm would be traveling over open water instead of over Cuba and could not only intensify, but could still hit the Florida Keys directly. It is because of this possibility that Emergency Management Officials are urging people to heed their order to leave.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Hurricane Ike update - 10 a.m., September 6, 2008

Visitor evacuations are underway and the official Resident evacuation begins Sunday morning. The Monroe County office of Emergency Management strongly urges everyone to leave the Keys prior to the arrival of Hurricane Ike.

"Everyone should be securing their property, and making their preparations to leave," said Emergency Management Director Irene Toner. "Ike is a serious threat to us all here in Monroe County and everyone needs to pay very close attention to our protective action orders."

As people make their preparations, they should NOT put garbage cans at the curb for pickup. Trash pickup county wide will stop as of Monday morning.

Most county and city offices plan to be closed Monday and Tuesday. Hospital emergency rooms will be closed for the storm as well.

"We want everyone in the Keys to evacuate as soon as possible," said Sheriff Rick Roth. "If you choose not to leave you need to be aware that emergency services may very well not be available to you if you need it."

During the evacuation, Sheriff Roth plans to deploy extra law enforcement officers throughout the island chain to make sure traffic flows as smoothly as possible.

Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
Update, Hurricane Ike – 3:30 p.m.
Keys Officials Announce Protective Actions for Ike
Visitor Evacuation to Begin Saturday Morning

Initiating protective actions Friday to ensure safety of life and property, Florida Keys officials ordered a mandatory visitor evacuation, officially beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.

All visitors are asked to calmly depart as soon as possible beginning Saturday morning.

Emergency officials are set to begin a phased evacuation for all residents beginning Sunday at 8 a.m. Times and regions are as follows: Lower Keys and Key West: 8 a.m.; Middle Keys including Marathon: Noon; Upper Keys including Key Largo, Islamorada and mainland Monroe County: 4 p.m.

The evacuations are to continue through Monday at noon, well prior to the current forecast’s arrival of tropical storm force winds arriving in the Keys Monday evening.

“The forecasters at the National Hurricane Center and Key West weather office are cautioning that a portion of the Keys may be impacted by a major hurricane,” said Keys Emergency Management Director Irene Toner. “Because of our unique geography and the possibility that other Florida counties may also be ordering evacuations, it is important for residents and visitors to heed our advice.”

Monroe County Sheriff Rick Roth said that while people should not waste time securing their homes, businesses, boats and other property, there is no reason to panic.

"There is plenty of time to make hurricane preparations and calmly leave the Keys," said Roth. "Our deputies will be out in force, making sure the evacuation goes smoothly and any accidents that might occur are cleared from the roadway quickly in an effort to minimize delays."

Tolls on the Card Sound Road Bridge are to be suspended Saturday morning.

To assist visitors and residents needing to locate hotel rooms outside the Florida Keys, Visit Florida is establishing both an online and operator-assisted hotel availability resource pool for evacuees. The online component should be available beginning Saturday morning by going to www.visitflorida.com and looking for the “hotel availability” link.

Visit Florida visitor assistance phone number is 1-800-287-8598.

Officials suggest that visitors and residents evacuate to mainland hotels well away from coastline areas.