MONROE COUNTY FLORIDA ISSUES HURRICANE ADVISORY

[Cyclone Runner]

Emergency Information Hotline 800-955-5504
(305) 289-6018
(305) 289-6333 fax

 Hurricane Advisory Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 1:29 PM

Keys Residents, Visitors should remain vigilant and monitor progress of Hurricane Frances

Monroe County Emergency Management officials and the Key West National Weather Service continue to closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Frances, now a category 4 storm currently about 1,200 miles to the east, southeast of the Florida Keys.

National Hurricane Center computer models have moved the storm’s official track to the north and there is cautious optimism that Frances may not significantly impact the Keys.

However, meteorological and emergency management officials are cautioning Keys residents and visitors to remain vigilant with regards to the progress of Frances. In a conference call late Tuesday morning with Florida county emergency management directors, Max Mayfield, the director of the National Hurricane Center, specifically said no area on Florida’s east coast including the Keys was “off the hook” yet.

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, an “increased state of readiness” was declared in Monroe County to put appropriate county personnel and resources on standby if protective actions are required.

Emergency Management officials advise that travelers can continue with Labor Day travel arrangements to the Keys. However, visitors and Keys tourism-related businesses should closely monitor the progress of the storm and prepare to take actions in the event a mandatory nonresident and visitor evacuation order is required. That order would include instructions for those with short-term Keys Travel plans to postpone them until any threat passes.

Keys hurricane preparedness information is available at http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/pages/hu ... repcov.htm Florida Keys weather information is available at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/eyw

Hurricane Frances Announcement

As of 11 a.m. Monday, August 30th, it is too early to make a precise prediction about the future movement of hurricane Frances and its affect on Monroe County.

Please refer to your personal, family or business hurricane plan and be prepared to follow upcoming protective actions from Emergency Management. 

Check weather broadcasts frequently on Channel 16 and 52 or listen to your NOAA weather radio station or local radio station for up-to-the-minute information. 

If you do not have a personal, family or business hurricane plan, please decide NOW where you will go if ordered to evacuate, who you will notify about your destination, and what you will take with you.

For more information contact our office at the number listed above, or visit the following web sights:

National Weather Service Key West: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/eyw/
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.html
Emergency Management Dept


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