Fay / Cuba / Bahamas / Florida (obs / preps / reports)

[29healb]

This news release from City of Homestead.


August 17, 2008, Homestead, FL - The City of Homestead City Hall will be open and all City services will continue as scheduled on Monday, August 18 and until the weather no longer permits. The City Council meeting scheduled for Monday evening has been postponed to Tuesday, September 2 at 7:00pm. In addition the Joint Town Hall meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 19 has also been postponed to a later date.

The City will make sandbags available to city residents on Sunday, August 17 from 2:00 p.m. to sunset and again on Monday, August 18 from 8:00 a.m. until the weather begins to deteriorate at the following locations:

· Baseball Complex (Stadium), 1601 SE 28 Av

· Roby George Park, 201 SW 11 Ave

· 1 Washington Ave Parking Lot (at the corner of Washington Ave and NE 2nd Street)

Please bring a valid picture ID; sandbags are available to City of Homestead residents only. Shovels will also be provided, however residents may want to bring their own to expedite the process. Assistance will be provided to those who need it.

Bulk trash and garbage pick up will be as normal as long as the weather permits. For safety reasons, once the winds reach 35 MPH, city vehicles and employees must be off the road. Please do not trim trees at this time, or put out any additional bulk trash.

The Homestead Emergency Operation Center is up and running and manned 24-hours throughout this emergency. The EOC number is (305) 242-2400.

It is important for all City of Homestead residents to complete their preparations today. The storm is expected to begin early Monday afternoon and continue into Tuesday afternoon. This will be a wet storm, so please prepare accordingly.

[msbee]

help!
I need some advice. I have teenaged grandchildren flying from st. maarten to San Juan and then on to Miami tomorrow. They are due to arrive in Miami about 4:30 PM.
does anyone have any idea as to whether or not they will or can fly to Miami tomorrow??
I don't want them stuck in San Juan.

I know it is hard to tell anything for sure at this point but I need to get some other thinking and opinions here please.
thanks
Barbara

[HURAKAN]

The fly may be delayed.



Another band moving in. Skies dark to the south from my location. The barometer is falling slowly.

[JonathanBelles]

Im in the Hurricane Watch now!

[baygirl_1]

help!
I need some advice. I have teenaged grandchildren flying from st. maarten to San Juan and then on to Miami tomorrow. They are due to arrive in Miami about 4:30 PM.
does anyone have any idea as to whether or not they will or can fly to Miami tomorrow??
I don't want them stuck in San Juan.

I know it is hard to tell anything for sure at this point but I need to get some other thinking and opinions here please.
thanks
Barbara

Barbara, you might want to check out this website: http://www1.wsvn.com/news/articles/tracking_tropics/MI94421/ They have a pretty comprehensive list for the Miami area. So far, the Miami airport has made no announcements, acc. to that website. Also, you might want to talk with the airline they're taking to see if they have any plans to stop service to South Florida late tomorrow. I can certainly understand your worries. Good luck!

[JonathanBelles]

Highlands and Hardee County Schools are now Closed on Tuesday!

[29healb]

From the City of Marco Island:

The City, County and State continue to monitor the changing forecast and path for Tropical Storm Fay.


Collier County Emergency Management is encouraging a voluntary evacuation west and south of US 41. If conditions deteriorate residents should be prepared to evacuate or seek sturdy shelter at a higher elevation.


Marco should anticipate deteriorating weather conditions starting Monday night. The wind could peek at 88 mph between 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. based on the latest models. Winds are expected to slow down around 5:30 am. The critical issue is a 3 foot high tide at 2-3 am and a potential storm surge of 6-8 feet, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.


Hurricane prediction models estimate a 6-8 foot storm surge tide which may coincide with an abnormal high tide after midnight on Monday. The storm may increase to a Category 1 hurricane or higher therefore, the concern for emergency officials is the storm surge which could flood homes and impact roadways. Individual that resident in homes that are low lying and mobile homes should consider evacuation not later than early Monday afternoon.


Collier County and the City of Marco Island will closely evaluate the situation throughout the evening and will provide an update following the Board of County Commissioner’s meeting tomorrow morning.


Residents are asked to secure their boats and loose yard items. In addition, stay tuned to the City’s website and Comcast Channel 12 for updates.

[msbee]

help!
I need some advice. I have teenaged grandchildren flying from st. maarten to San Juan and then on to Miami tomorrow. They are due to arrive in Miami about 4:30 PM.
does anyone have any idea as to whether or not they will or can fly to Miami tomorrow??
I don't want them stuck in San Juan.

I know it is hard to tell anything for sure at this point but I need to get some other thinking and opinions here please.
thanks
Barbara

Barbara, you might want to check out this website: http://www1.wsvn.com/news/articles/tracking_tropics/MI94421/ They have a pretty comprehensive list for the Miami area. So far, the Miami airport has made no announcements, acc. to that website. Also, you might want to talk with the airline they're taking to see if they have any plans to stop service to South Florida late tomorrow. I can certainly understand your worries. Good luck!

thanks baygirl.
the decision has been made. they will delay their flights and come to Miami on Friday. AA is allowing people to re schedule at no cost.
I think the way things look now that they probably could have traveled safely. Miami is now out of the cone, but they made the decision to not take any chances.
Barbara

[Sanibel]

First band with light to moderate rain. Thunder before.

Wind was 5-7 knots NNW on causeway bridge. Gray rain bands to SSE.

[Bocadude85]

first squall from fay moving through.. lots of lightining

[Sihara]

Im in the Hurricane Watch now!

Yeah, the Watch is all the way up to Tarpon Springs. The weather-alarm went off to announce it.

Interesting, the noaa radio is saying for Tuesday & Tuesday night "tropical storm conditions possible." But in the marine forecast for the same day, it says "tropical storm or hurricane conditions possible."

Also interesting to note that, now that the Cone has shifted a bit with extreme S FL out of it, that the Tampa Bay area still appears to be in the middle.

[JonathanBelles]

Im gonna try to create a comprehensive watch/warning/evac/closure list. Im gonna need help keeping it up to date.

Broward
TS Watch
TS Wind Watch
FAU closing on Monday at noon
County Government offices at noon on Monday
Broward County libraries will be closed all day on Monday
Broward County parks will be close at noon on Monday
Animal Care shelters in Pompano and Fort Lauderdale will be closed on Monday
Broward County public schools will be closed on Monday
Hollywood Christian Academy will be closed on Monday


Charlotte
Hurricane Watch
Volentary Evacuat

Citrus
None

Collier
Hurricane Watch
TS Wind Watch
Voluntary Evacuation of those west and south of US 41

DeSoto
Hurricane Watch

Glades
TS Wind Watch

Hardee
Hurricane Wind Watch
No School Tuesday

Hendry
TS Wind Watch

Hernando
none

Highlands
---Hurricane Wind Watch
---No School Tuesday
---Sandbags available at the EOC, 6850 W. George Blvd, Sebring, Sheriff’s Tower Road Monday at noon (up to 25 bags)
---Shelters---
Will open Monday evening 8/18/08 at 1800 hours
Avon Park Recreation Center – 207 E. State Street, Avon Park
Woodlawn Elementary School in the cafeteria – 718 Fielder Blvd, Sebring
Lake Placid High School – 202 Green Dragon Drive, Lake Placid

Hillsborough
Hurricane Watch

Lee
Hurricane Watch

Manatee
Hurricane Watch

Martin
none

Miami-Dade
TS Watch
TS Wind Watch
Sandbags are available in the City of Homestead
11th Judicial Circuit of Florida will be closed on Monday
No School Monday
Tolls: Suspended on Turnpike Ext. NB, Homestead to Miami-Dade line

Monroe
Hurricane Watch
TS Warning (Keys)
Local State of Emergency
Evacuation of all visitors
No School Monday or Tuesday
City and County offices closed Monday
Sheriffs office is closed Monday and Tuesday
---Shelters to open at 7pm---
Key West High School on Flagler Avenue in Key West
Sugarloaf School on Crane Boulevard, just off the bayside of the 19 mile marker of Highway U.S. One
Stanley Switlik Elementary School at 3400 Overseas Highway in Marathon
Coral Shores High School, mile marker 90 on Highway U.S. One in Islamorada

Okeechobee
TS Wind Watch

Orange
None

Osceola
TS Wind Watch

Palm Beach
TS Watch
TS Wind Watch
FAU closing on Monday at noon

Pasco
none

Pinellas
Hurricane Watch
St. Petersburg College is closed on Monday

Polk
Hurricane Wind Watch
---Special Needs Shelters open Monday--- (pre register at (863) 534-5600 )
* Haines City Adult Day Care Center – 751 Scenic Hwy,
* Haines CityLakeland Adult Day Care Center – 1200 Southern Ave., Lakeland
* Polk County Health Department (PCHD) Bartow Specialty Unit – 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
Sandbags will be available at
* Golfview – 2902 Hwy 60 East in Lake Wales
* Jan Phyl – 333 American Spirit Blvd in Winter Haven
* Providence – 8936 Hwy 98 N in north LakelandWillow Oak – 4210 Willis Road in Mulberry
*Maximum of 30 sanbags


Sarasota
Hurricane Watch
Local State of Emergency
Mandatory Level A Evacuation
Shelters will open after 5 p.m. Monday

St. Lucie
FAU closing on Monday at noon

Ill be updating this list ove the next few hours with evacs/closures. If there is an evac in place, school closed, please post it.

[SouthFloridawx]

Cloud cover increasing here in Punta Gorda. Some storms to my South and it's lookin pretty dark down there. I'll try to post some pictures from time to time while I can.

[29healb]

FAU to Close at Noon on Monday, Aug. 18

Due to the possibility of inclement weather as a result of Tropical Storm Fay and the closures announced by local school districts and county and government offices, Florida Atlantic University will close its normal business operations on all of its campuses beginning at NOON on Monday, August 18. All staff is asked to report to the university on Monday morning to prepare their offices and complete essential duties. Tier 1 / Level 1 employees will receive additional instructions from their supervisors.

At noon on Monday, information will be available regarding the status of FAU’s campuses for Tuesday. In addition, there will be an update on the status of all programs and offices at the A.D. Henderson University School, FAU High School and the Karen Slattery Child Development Center.

Move-In Day at the Jupiter campus, originally scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, is cancelled and will be rescheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Specific times associated with the rescheduling will be available on Monday afternoon.

Student Orientation scheduled for Monday and Tuesday will be rescheduled for Wednesday and Thursday with check in taking place at 7:30 a.m. in the Student Union. For more information on the rescheduling of Student Orientation, please contact Christine Lynch at clynch13@fau.edu or at 561-297-2733 between 8:30 a.m. and noon on Monday.

For continual updates on FAU’s status, visit this website or call the FAU hotline at 561-297-2020, 561-799-8020, 954-236-1800 or 772-873-3330.

[Terry]

Here is a view from Anna Maria Island this evening (south end of Tampa Bay) toward the SSE. You can see the large complex of nasty storms in a feederband that went through the Ft. Myers & Englewood areas


This was the sunset scene toward the NW with a disturbance moving in. Hmm. Wonder what will happen when these two things meet up?

[dizzyfish]

Just got a recorded call from the super for the school district.

School tomorrow...who knows after that....\

Same ol thang, different year....

[sittingduck]

Got a recorded call from Sarasota County - school tomorrow will decide about Tuesday by noon tomorrow!

[JonathanBelles]

Why would you have the first day of school, just to have the second day of school cancelled. The kids arent gonna have any idea whats going on.

[29healb]

From the City of Plantation:

Severe Weather Update
Sunday, August 17, 2008
5:00 P.M.

This is a Tropical Storm Fay Update at 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 17, 2008. Broward County is currently under a Tropical Storm Watch.

Tropical Storm Fay is currently located South of Cuba and moving due west. Fay is predicted to make a turn to the North and directly impact Florida’s West Coast, as a Category One Hurricane, sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

As a result Broward County has elected to close the public schools on Monday.

All city parks and recreation activities will close on Monday at 1:00 P.M. All other City operations will continue as normal, unless reported otherwise.

All emergencies should be reported by dialing 9-1-1.

All citizens are encouraged to follow the course of Tropical Storm Fay by listening to Plantation Information Radio, 1620 AM, calling the Citizens Hotline at 954-585-2363 or by checking the Severe Weather page on our website at http://www.plantation.org.

[29healb]

Tropical Storm Advisory #4 - Broward County Courts and Property Appraiser's Office to Close at Noon on Monday



The 17th Judicial Circuit of the Broward County Courts will close at noon on Monday, August 18, along with other Broward County Government offices. All Courthouse facilities and all branches of the courts will be closed at noon, including Clerk of Courts, Court Administration, Public Defender's Office, State Attorney's Office, and the Judiciary. Jurors should report on Monday morning as scheduled.

The Broward County Property Appraiser's office will also close at noon on Monday, August 18.

Residents should continue to monitor news advisories on Tropical Storm Fay. The Broward County Hurricane Hotline will remain open overnight and on Monday. Call 3-1-1 or 954-831-4000. Visit http://www.broward.org/hurricane for preparedness information as well as the latest on Broward County openings, closings and cancellations.