[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KKEY 242320
HLSKEY

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TROPICAL STORM ISAAC LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
720 PM EDT FRI AUG 24 2012

...TROPICAL STORM WATCHES IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS AND THE
DRY TORTUGAS AND ALL SURROUNDING WATERS INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY...

.NEW INFORMATION...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS AND DRY
TORTUGAS AND ALL SURROUNDING WATERS...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.

.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINERS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
OF MONROE COUNTY AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR ALL OF FLORIDA KEYS OF
MONROE COUNTY.

FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR ALL
OF FLORIDA KEYS COASTAL WATERS.

PLEASE CHECK THE LATEST PUBLIC AND MARINE FORECASTS FOR DETAILED
INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL HAZARDS.

.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ISAAC WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 17.2N...LONGITUDE 71.9W. THIS WAS ABOUT 810 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST FL. STORM MOTION WAS NW OR 315 DEGREES AT
16 MPH. STORM INTENSITY WAS 65 MPH.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
TROPICAL STORM ISAAC IS CURRENTLY MOVING NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH THE
NORTHERN PORTION OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA. ISAAC IS FORECAST TO CROSS CUBA ON
SATURDAY AND EMERGE OFF THE NORTH COAST OF CUBA SATURDAY EVENING...AND
BE IN THE THE FLORIDA STRAITS BY EARLY SUNDAY. THE CURRENT OFFICIAL
FORECAST TRACK FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HAS ISAAC CROSSING
THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS BY LATE SUNDAY EVENING AND MOVING FURTHER INTO
THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY EARLY MONDAY. AT LEAST TROPICAL
STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
SURROUNDING WATERS AS ISAAC MOVES THROUGH.

.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR THOSE UNDER A WATCH...NOW IS THE TIME TO BEGIN PREPARING YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS ACCORDING TO YOUR HURRICANE DISASTER PLAN. LISTEN
FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE READY TO EVACUATE IF NECESSARY. HEED THE
ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ANY ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED.

FOR INTERESTS AT PORTS...DOCKS...AND MARINAS...IT IS RECOMMENDED
THAT YOU PERFORM THE PRESCRIBED PREPARATIONS ACCORDING TO YOUR
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES. IF YOU LIVE ON A
BOAT...BEGIN TO SAFELY SECURE YOUR CRAFT AND MAKE PLANS TO LEAVE IT
FOR ADEQUATE LAND BASED SHELTER. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

REGARDING THE COASTAL WATERS UNDER A WATCH...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD
RETURN TO PORT OR SEEK SAFE HARBOR.

IT IS VITAL THAT YOU DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK
THOUGH. TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN BAD DECISIONS AND PLACE YOU OR THOSE
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT GREAT RISK.

A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED IN MONROE COUNTY TODAY AT
NOON. AT THIS TIME...THERE IS NO EVACUATION PLANNED FOR RESIDENTS OR
VISITORS. HOWEVER...THE ABSENCE OF A VISITOR EVACUATION SHOULD NOT
BE INTERPRETED BY VISITOR AS AN ALL-CLEAR. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT BE
OUTSIDE OR ON ROADWAYS...BEACHES...AND CERTAINLY NOT ON OR IN THE
WATER UNTIL ISAAC IS WELL AWAY FROM THE KEYS.

STORM SHELTERS AT AT THREE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL OPEN AT 2 PM
SATURDAY FOR THOSE SEEKING SHELTER FROM TROPICAL STORM ISAAC. PEOPLE
WHO DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES MAY GO THOSE SHELTERS TO RIDE OUT
THE STORM. THE THREE SHELTERS ARE KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL...STANLEY
SWITLIK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MARATHON...AND CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL
IN TAVERNIER.

MONROE COUNTY OFFICES...SHERIFF'S OFFICES...SCHOOLS AND THE COUNTY
COURTS WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY. OF COURSE...SHERIFF'S OFFICE
DISPATCHERS...LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL...FIREFIGHTERS
AND PARAMEDICS WILL STILL BE WORKING TO KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE AND
SECURE.

KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WILL MOST LIKELY STOP COMMERCIAL
TRAFFIC SATURDAY EVENING AND ALL DAY SUNDAY. FLIGHTS WILL RESUME WHEN
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS SUBSIDE AND IT IS JUDGED SAFE TO RESUME
TRAFFIC. PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEIR COMMERCIAL CARRIERS
FOR DETAILS.

CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR
OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE
FORECAST.

&&

.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT CONCERNING THE IMPACTS OF TROPICAL STORM
ISAAC TO THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN KEY WEST BY 12 AM EDT...OR SOONER IF NEW INFORMATION
BECOMES AVAILABLE.

FLZ076>078-GMZ031>034-042>044-052>055-072>075-250430-
/O.CON.KKEY.TR.A.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
MONROE UPPER KEYS-MONROE MIDDLE KEYS-MONROE LOWER KEYS-
FLORIDA BAY INCLUDING BLACKWATER AND BUTTONWOOD SOUNDS-
BAYSIDE AND GULF SIDE FROM CRAIG KEY TO HALFMOON SHOAL OUT TO
5 FATHOMS-
GULF WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE 20 TO 60 NM OUT
AND BEYOND 5 FATHOMS-
GULF OF MEXICO INCLUDING DRY TORTUGAS AND REBECCA SHOAL CHANNEL-
HAWK CHANNEL FROM OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY OUT TO THE REEF-
HAWK CHANNEL FROM CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE OUT
TO THE REEF-
HAWK CHANNEL FROM WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO HALFMOON SHOAL
OUT TO THE REEF-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO SOUTH OF
HALFMOON SHOAL OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM HALFMOON SHOAL TO 20 NM WEST OF DRY
TORTUGAS OUT 20 NM-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM OCEAN REEF TO CRAIG KEY 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM CRAIG KEY TO WEST END OF SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM WEST END OF SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO SOUTH OF
HALFMOON SHOAL 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
STRAITS OF FLORIDA FROM HALFMOON SHOAL TO 20 NM WEST OF DRY
TORTUGAS 20 TO 60 NM OUT-
720 PM EDT FRI AUG 24 2012

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...NEW INFORMATION...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS AND DRY
TORTUGAS AND ALL SURROUNDING WATERS...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...BEFORE CONDITIONS
DETERIORATE. KEEP INFORMED WHILE LISTENING FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
SECURE LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS WHICH CAN BE BLOWN AROUND. STRONGLY
CONSIDER EVACUATING IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME...AND DO SO IF
ORDERED BY LOCAL OFFICIALS. BOAT OWNERS AND CAPTAINS OF SMALL CRAFT
NEED TO DETERMINE THE BEST STRATEGY FOR SECURING THEIR CRAFT.

&&

...PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS...
THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS SMALL. ALSO...THE
CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO 58
PERCENT. THE ONSET OF TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD START AS EARLY
AS SUNDAY MORNING.

...WINDS AND SEAS...
AS TROPICAL STORM ISAAC MOVES CLOSER...THE THREAT FOR SUSTAINED HIGH
WINDS IS LIKELY TO INCREASE. THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR STRONG
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS FROM EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO EARLY
MONDAY MORNING. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE CURRENTLY FORECAST TO
BEGIN AFFECTING THE AREA EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. A GENERAL CONCERN
SHOULD BE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF AT LEAST DAMAGING WINDS LIKELY
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE AREA.

COMBINED SEAS OF 10 TO 20 FEET ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN THE
FLORIDA STRAITS AND BEYOND THE REEF MAINLY FROM MID DAY SUNDAY
THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE EXACT HEIGHTS OF STORM
TIDES FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS WITHIN THE FORECAST AREA TO BE
CAUSED BY TROPICAL STORM ISAAC. MUCH DEPENDS ON THE PRECISE
SIZE...INTENSITY AND TRACK OF THE SYSTEM AS IT APPROACHES THE
COAST. GIVEN THE LATEST FORECAST...THERE IS A CHANCE FOR STORM
TIDES 1 TO 3 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL WITHIN AREAS CLOSER TO THE
COAST.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.
EXPECT FLOODING AND STANDING WATER IN LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE
AREA THROUGH MUCH OF SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY.

...TORNADOES...
AT THIS TIME THE TORNADO THREAT IS LOW FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
SURROUNDING WATERS.

$$




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