[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KKEY 070046
HLSKEY

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE IKE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
846 PM EDT SAT SEP 6 2008

...IKE APPROACHING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...

.AT 800 PM EDT...THE EYE OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE
21.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 70.2 WEST OR ABOUT 770 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
KEY WEST.

IKE HAS BEEN MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-SOUTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH DURING THE
PAST FEW HOURS BUT IKE SHOULD RESUME A TRACK BETWEEN THE WEST AND
WEST-SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH TONIGHT. ON THIS TRACK...THE CORE OF THE
HURRICANE IS EXPECTED TO PASS NEAR OR OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS
ISLANDS SHORTLY...AND BEGIN TO AFFECT THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS LATER
TONIGHT OR EARLY SUNDAY. IKE SHOULD THEN MOVE NEAR THE CENTRAL
BAHAMAS AND THE NORTHERN COAST OF EASTERN CUBA SUNDAY NIGHT AND EARLY
MONDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 135 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IKE
IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-
SIMPSON SCALE. FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT
48 HOURS...BUT IKE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A MAJOR HURRICANE DURING
THIS PERIOD.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES FROM THE
CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140
MILES.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE JUST REPORTED BY THE RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 947 MB...OR 27.96 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 13 TO 18 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...
ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED
IN THE WARNING AREA NEAR AND TO THE NORTH TO THE OF THE CENTER OF
IKE.

ALL INTERESTS IN THE REMAINDER OF THE BAHAMAS...CUBA...SOUTH
FLORIDA...AND THE FLORIDA KEYS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS
OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HURRICANE.

FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-070430-
/O.CON.KKEY.HU.S.0003.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
MONROE UPPER KEYS-MONROE MIDDLE KEYS-MONROE LOWER KEYS-
FLORIDA BAY-GULF SIDE OF THE LOWER KEYS OUT 20 NM-
GULF WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY OUT 20 NM-
CRAIG KEY TO THE WEST END OF THE 7 MILE BRIDGE OUT 20 NM-
WEST END OF THE 7 MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST OUT 20 NM-
OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
CRAIG KEY TO THE WEST END OF THE 7 MILE BRIDGE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
WEST END OF THE 7 MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
KEY WEST TO 20 NM WEST OF DRY TORTUGAS OUT 60 NM-
846 PM EDT SAT SEP 6 2008

...NEW INFORMATION...

UPDATED HURRICANE IKE INFORMATION FOR THE 8 PM ADVISORY.
UPDATED PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION TO INCLUDE THE LATEST DATA FROM
MONROE COUNTY AND THE CITIES.

...AREAS AFFECTED...

THIS STATEMENT DETAILS SPECIFIC PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY ACTIONS
TO BE TAKEN IN THE FLORIDA KEYS OF MONROE COUNTY CONCERNING THE
EFFECTS OF HURRICANE IKE.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...

AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR THE
FLORIDA KEYS AND THE SURROUNDING WATERS.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS ORDERED A MANDATORY
EVACUATION FOR ALL VISITORS...RECREATIONAL VEHICLES...TRAVEL AND
BOAT TRAILERS. VISITORS SHOULD LEAVE THE FLORIDA KEYS...AND
OFFICIALS SUGGEST RELOCATING TO HOTELS ON THE MAINLAND WELL AWAY
FROM COASTAL AREAS. TOLL COLLECTION HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AT THE CARD
SOUND BRIDGE. VISITORS NEEDING TO FIND INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE
HOTELS IN FLORIDA MAY CALL THE VISIT FLORIDA VISITOR ASSISTANCE HOT
LINE AT 1-800-287-8598.

CURRENTLY...SPECIAL NEEDS RESIDENTS...TRAILER PARK RESIDENTS...AND
MARINE LIVE ABOARD RESIDENTS ARE ORDERED TO EVACUATE BEGINNING AT 700
AM SUNDAY MORNING. GENERAL MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS FOR FLORIDA
KEYS RESIDENTS ARE PLANNED TO BEGIN SUNDAY IN THREE PHASES...BEGINNING
WITH ALL LOWER KEYS RESIDENTS INCLUDING THE CITY OF KEY WEST AT
800 AM...MIDDLE KEYS RESIDENTS INCLUDING MARATHON AND KEY COLONY
BEACH BEGINNING AT NOON...AND FINALLY THE UPPER KEYS RESIDENTS...
INCLUDING ISLAMORADA AND OCEAN REEF AT 400 PM. MONROE COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS ARE PLANNING TO MAKE DECISIONS
REGARDING THE EVACUATION PLANS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...FOLLOWING THE
5 AM ADVISORY FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. ALL KEYS RESIDENTS
SHOULD FINISH HURRICANE PREPARATIONS TONIGHT WITH THE INTENT OF
DEPARTING SUNDAY AT THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TIMES. ALL RESIDENTS ARE
URGED TO CHECK LOCAL MEDIA...THE MONROE COUNTY WEBSITE...OR CHANNEL
76 BEFORE LEAVING. THE EVACUATION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NOON ON
MONDAY...BEFORE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE.
THE OFFICIAL MONROE COUNTY SHELTER AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITY...JUST OFF THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT U.S. ROUTE 41...TAMIAMI
TRAIL...WILL BE OPENING AT 800 AM SUNDAY MORNING...BUT WILL NOT ALLOW
PETS. ADDITIONAL SHELTERS ON THE MAINLAND WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON
AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CITY OF KEY WEST WILL OPERATE AN
EVACUATION SHUTTLE STARTING AT 800 AM SUNDAY MORNING...FOR RESIDENTS
WHO LACK THEIR OWN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. CALL 293-6426 FOR PICK-UP
LOCATIONS AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK...ALONG WITH ALL COUNTY AND STATE PARKS
ARE CLOSED. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY AND
TUESDAY. ALL COUNTY...STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON
MONDAY. THE KEY WEST AND MARATHON AIRPORTS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR ALL
COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS AND GENERAL AVIATION THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY
EVENING.

...WINDS...

WINDS WILL REMAIN SAFE FOR ALL ROAD TRAVEL THROUGH AT LEAST MIDDAY
MONDAY. WINDS MAY BECOME UNSAFE FOR TRAVEL BY MONDAY NIGHT.

...PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...

FOR KEY WEST...THERE IS A 57 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS
39 MPH OR GREATER. THERE IS A 16 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED
WINDS 74 MPH OR GREATER.

FOR MARATHON...THERE IS A 55 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS
39 MPH OR GREATER. THERE IS A 14 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED
WINDS 74 MPH OR GREATER.

FOR MIAMI...THERE IS A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS
39 MPH OR GREATER. THERE IS A 7 PERCENT CHANCE OF SUSTAINED WINDS
74 MPH OR GREATER.

...MARINE IMPACTS...

BOAT OWNERS SHOULD FINISH SECURING THEIR VESSELS THIS EVENING...
AND BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE STARTING SUNDAY MORNING. THE SNAKE CREEK
AND THE OLD JEWFISH CREEK DRAWBRIDGES WILL CONTINUE TO OPEN FOR
MARINE TRAFFIC TONIGHT...BUT MAY LOCK DOWN AT 800 AM SUNDAY MORNING.
BE PATIENT...AS THE FREQUENCY OF BRIDGE OPENINGS MAY BE TEMPORARILY
REDUCED IF EXCESSIVELY HEAVY VEHICLE TRAFFIC DEVELOPS. WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN 15 KNOTS OR LESS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. IF YOU ARE
PLANNING ON DRIVING YOUR BOAT OUT OF THE KEYS ON A TRAILER...PLAN TO
DO SO TONIGHT.

...NEXT UPDATE...

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT CONCERNING THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF
HURRICANE IKE TO THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE ISSUED BY MIDNIGHT...OR
SOONER IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

$$

JACOBSON









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