[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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Hurricane Irma Local Statement Advisory Number 43
National Weather Service Key West FL  AL112017
608 PM EDT Sat Sep 9 2017

This product covers Florida Keys

**Severe Hurricane Irma is moving toward the Florida Keys, and may
  bring potentially catastrophic impacts tonight and Sunday**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for
      Monroe Lower Keys, Monroe Middle Keys, and Monroe Upper Keys

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 115 miles southeast of Key West FL or about 100 miles
      south-southeast of Marathon FL or about 115 miles south of Key
      Largo FL
    - 23.4N 80.5W
    - Storm Intensity 125 mph
    - Movement West-northwest or 295 degrees at 9 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------ Large and potentially catastrophic Hurricane Irma,
 located north of the central coast of Cuba, just south of the outer
 Straits of Florida, is expected to move west-northwestward this
 evening. Thereafter, Hurricane Irma is expected to turn northwest
 through the Straits of Florida tonight before crossing the Lower Keys
 Sunday morning. Regardless of where Irma makes landfall, all
 significant hurricane impact threats are likely late tonight through
 Sunday for the entire Florida Keys, including catastrophic and life
 threatening storm surge flooding and damaging winds, potentially
 extremely high rainfall amounts, as well as a threat of tornadoes.

Tropical storm-force winds have overspread our area with Hurricane
force winds beginning after midnight. Outdoor preparations to protect
life and property should be completed.

For those remaining, Monroe County has opened four refuges of last
resort today. No services will be available. These shelters will
remain open until winds decrease below tropical storm- force. They are
not recovery shelters.

The refuges of last resort are: Coral Shores High School, Marathon
High School, Sugarloaf School, and Key West High School. Consult
www.monroecountyEM.com at 1-800-955-5504 for additional information.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* WIND:
Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible devastating impacts
across Florida Keys. Potential impacts include:
    - Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof
      and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage
      greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations
      may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
    - Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
      roadway signs blown over.
    - Many roads impassable due to large debris. Many bridges,
      causeways, and access routes impassable.
    - Widespread power and communications outages. Major damage
      possible to communication towers.

* SURGE:
Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible devastating impacts
across portion of the Florida Keys. Potential impacts in this area
include:
    - Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly
      accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
      buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded
      from considerable floating debris. Locations may be
      uninhabitable for an extended period.
    - Many large sections of highways, roads, and low-lying escape
      routes washed out or severely flooded. Some causeways washed
      out. Low elevation bridges damaged. Flood control systems and
      barriers may become stressed.
    - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
    - Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
      Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
      onshore and stranded.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
devastating impacts across Florida Keys. Potential impacts include:
    - Rescues of special needs residents from ground floor homes and
      of motorists may be necessary.
    - Several locations may experience rainfall flooding at or near
      historic levels. Widespread, rapid inundation covers both
      primary and secondary roads.Damage to vehicles and ground floor
      homes and businesses.

* TORNADOES:
Prepare for a tornado event having impacts across the Florida Keys.
Potential impacts include:
    - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
      of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
      and communications disruptions.
    - Roofs may peel off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes
      pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and
      branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving
      vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:

For those remaining in the Florida Keys, Monroe County has opened four
refuges of last resort. No services will be available. These shelters
will remain open until winds decrease below tropical storm-force. They
are not recovery shelters.

The refuges of last resort are: Coral Shores High School, Marathon High
School, Sugarloaf School, and Key West High School. Consult
www.monroecountyEM.com at 1-800-955-5504 for additional information.

The Snake Creek Drawbridge in Islamorada is locked down for the
duration of the storm.

The Port of Key West is closed.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

-For Storm Information follow NWS Florida Keys on Facebook and Twitter
 @NWSKeyWest
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
- For Florida Division of Emergency Management information, see
  floridadisaster.org
- For Monroe County Emergency Management information, see
monroecountyem.com/index.aspx?NID=1
- For Monroe County evacuation information, see
monroecountyem.com/index.aspx?NID=255
- For information on shelters located outside of Monroe County, see
monroecountyem.com/index.aspx?nid=122
- For Monroe County shelter information, see
monroecountyem.com/index.aspx?nid=121


NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Key West FL around 9 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

$$

APA
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