boca wrote:I think its a day premature to evacuate the Keys especially if the models keep shifting west. Wait until Sunday at least.If people evacuate and S FL is no longer in the cone the next time no one will evacuate for the next threat.
From the Keys visitor website:
Initiating protective actions Friday to ensure safety of life and property due to possible impacts from Hurricane Ike,
Florida Keys officials ordered a mandatory visitor evacuation, officially beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. All visitors are asked to calmly leave the Keys beginning early Saturday morning.
Travelers with plans to visit the Keys now through next Wednesday must postpone trips until the storm is clear of the region and officials give an "all-clear" for visitors to return.
Updates following the storm will be posted on the Keys Web site to provide detailed information regarding the status of the Keys tourism infrastructure.
Emergency officials are set to begin a phased, mandatory 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.”