The state of Florida is preparing for Hurricane Matthew – a Category 3 storm. Parts of Florida remain under both Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches.
EVACUATIONS
– Brevard County: Mandatory evacuations for barrier islands is at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
– St. Lucie County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
– Flagler County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
– Duval County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
– Hendry County: Voluntary evacuations are being recommended.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) activated its emergency contact system for the east coast Florida school districts and colleges, and is monitoring closures made at the district and college levels.
– Brevard County Schools – Closed Thursday and Friday.
– Broward County Schools – Closed Thursday and Friday.
– Eastern Florida State College will be closed until Monday.
– Glades County Schools – Closed Thursday and Friday.
– Hendry County Schools – Closed Thursday and Friday.
– Martin County Schools – There will be early dismissal Wednesday. Schools closed Thursday and Friday.
– Indian River County Schools – There will be early dismissal Wednesday. Schools closed Thursday and Friday.
– Okeechobee County – Schools closed Thursday and Friday.
– Palm Beach County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
– St. Lucie County – There will be early dismissal Wednesday. Schools closed Thursday and Friday.
– Florida School for Deaf and Blind – Closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
– Florida Atlantic University – Classes will be canceled beginning at 5 PM Wednesday and remain canceled Thursday and Friday.
– University of North Florida – Classes will be canceled beginning at 3 PM Wednesday and remain cancelled Thursday and Friday.
SHELTERS
Glades County – Moore Haven Middle/High School will open as a shelter at noon on Thursday. West Glades School will also open as a special needs shelter at noon on Thursday. Neither shelter is pet friendly.
Hendry County – General population shelters will be open at Clewiston Middle School and Labelle Middle School. The American Red Cross will be staffing the shelters beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday. No pets are allowed, except for service animals.
For a list of shelters in Southwest Florida, click here.
GOVERNMENT CLOSURES
DCF offices in Brevard County are closing as of noon Wednesday due to mandatory coastal evacuations. They will also be closed Thursday and Friday per Brevard County.
State buildings within the counties affected by evacuations are also closing Thursday and Friday. They are: Baker, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie and Volusia.
BRIDGE CLOSURES
FDOT is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to lock down Intracoastal Waterway bridges along the eastern Florida coast prior to sustained winds of 40 mph.
– Intracoastal bridges in Palm Beach County will be locked down by 8 p.m. Wednesday.
– Drawbridges along the Miami River and the Intracoastal Waterway in Miami-Dade County will be locked down beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
During lock-down, the bridge is closed; power turned off and the traffic arms may be removed. Closure of bridges on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) will begin at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.
SEAPORTS
The state is monitoring conditions at the following seaports and all are still open:
– Duval – JAXPORT (*Seaport Access Restricted)
– Nassau – Port of Fernandina (*Seaport Access Restricted)
– Broward – Port Everglades (*Seaport Access Restricted)
– Palm Beach – Port of Palm Beach (*Seaport Access Restricted)
– Saint Lucie – Port of Ft. Pierce (*Seaport Access Restricted)
– Brevard – Port Canaveral (*Seaport Access Restricted)
– Miami-Dade – Port Miami (*Seaport Access Restricted)
– Monroe – Port of Key West
TOLLS SUSPENDED
Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation to suspend tolls in counties where evacuations are underway.
NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED
After activating the National Guard Monday, Governor Scott directed 500 National Guards members to station in North, Central and South Florida to mobilize immediately. Another 6,000 are ready if more should be needed.
“The National Guard will be focused on staging to perform search and rescue efforts,” Gov. Scott said.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has high-water vehicles ready to assist search and rescue teams.