[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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WTUS82 KKEY 101248
HLSKEY
FLZ076>078-102100-

Hurricane Irma Local Statement Intermediate Advisory Number 45A
National Weather Service Key West FL  AL112017
848 AM EDT Sun Sep 10 2017

This product covers Florida Keys

**Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Irma is just south of the center
 of the Middle Keys, with the eyewall covering most of the Lower Keys
 to the Seven Mile Bridge, and possibly into Marathon. Potentially
 catastrophic storm surge and life threatening winds, extremely heavy
 freshwater rain and possibly a few embedded tornadoes.**

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:
    - Just south of Cudjoe Key and Summerland Key
      of Key Largo FL
    - 24.5N 81.5W
    - Storm Intensity 130 mph
    - Movement North-northwest or 340 degrees at 8 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Stay indoors, hunker down and stay safe. Do not forget proper footwear
and do not be fooled by the calm wind as the eyewall overspreads the
Lower Keys. Remain inside because the southern periphery of the eyewall
will follow with the same potentially severe hurricane impacts.

Large and potentially catastrophic Hurricane Irma will continue to move
northwest to north of the Lower Keys this morning.

Hurricane force winds have spread across almost all the island chain
with the potentially catastrophic winds over the Lower Keys.

A reasonable worst case scenario is for storm surge values of 5 to
10 feet above ground, with the highest values near and to the right of
the eye. The initial storm surge is peaking across the Lower and
westernmost Middle Keys now and will persist across the entire island
chain through mid afternoon.

Consult www.monroecountyEM.com at 1-800-955-5504 for additional
information.

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

* WIND:
Protect against 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:
Protect against life-threatening surge having possible devastating
impacts across especially the Lower and westernmost Lower 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:
Protect against 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.
    - Widespread, rapid inundation covers both primary and secondary
      roads.Damage to vehicles and ground floor homes and businesses.

* TORNADOES:
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across 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
----------------------------------

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

Stay sheltered in place and do not be fooled when the winds collapse as
the Hurricane eye moves across the Lower Keys by 9 am.

During the storm 9 1 1 Emergency Services may not be able to respond
if conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision
making.

* 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 NOON, or sooner if conditions warrant.

$$
APA
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