- Updates from the Islands -- - Florida Keys - - |
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- FLORIDA KEYS EVACUATION ORDER LIFTED |
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At 0500 today Monroe County lifted the mandatory evacuation of the Florida Keys. With the storm moving to the Yucatan Pass, the CPA will be in excess of 180nm by this evening. We were spared having a storm as dangerous as IVAN hit the Florida Keys. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families who were on Islands that were closer to the storm.
We in the Florida Keys should not become complacent just because of the recent experience of three hurricanes missing the Keys. I am proud to have seen how well our Federal, State, County and Local governments worked together as a team to prepare for storms, and plan for the response to the aftermath of a hurricane here in the Keys. But I am concerned that the public may not heed future warnings.
Throughout these three storms, the U.S. Coast Guard was "On watch" with cutters and aircraft actively patrolling the Florida Straits and Gulf of Mexico. We were "ready" to assure the SAFETY of people on the water through Marine broadcasts and an aggressive Search and Rescue posture. Preparing for hurricanes the U.S.C.G. PROTECTS THE MARITIME TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE so that the ports can be secured and then opened to resume commerce as soon as possible after the hurricane passes. The USCG also SUPPORTS ALL OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES...as a member of the Department of Homeland Security, the USCG is directly linked to FEMA and other agencies to provide disaster response. Finally, the USCG is a HUMANITARIAN service, I am proud to say that USCG air crews responded to recent requests by the Bahamian government to provide airlift support to move equipment and supplies by air
between islands.
The U.S.C.G. is as our motto claims, "Always Ready." As our families return to the Keys, we are reminded that while many refer to "luck," it is essential to be ready with good sound planning and to work as a team in order to prepare for, and successfully deal with challenges like IVAN. It is our responsibility to raise the awareness of the public not to be complacent in responding to authorities who order evacuations in the future.
Be safe,
Semper Paratus,
CAPT Phillip J. Heyl, USCG
Commander, SECTOR KEY WEST
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- Update |
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Quite in the
Keys,
So far Ivan is
forecast to pass to the west of us. Still plenty of locals in town
watching the track, but most are ready to take off in case of a major
adjustment. At this point Ivan will pass ~ 150 miles to the west, which
means that we will look forward to some rain and windy conditions late tonight
or mayby tomorrow. Long range radar just begining to show outer feeder
bands on the far side of cuban shores.
Current conditions
in Big Pine, partly cloudy, 88 degrees, and wind at 15
MPH.
Randy O'Connell |
- IVAN--KEY WEST EVACUATION BEGINS |
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IVAN--Key West Evacuation Begins Monroe County has ordered the Evacuation of Key West this morning at 0700 Local time (L). U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West ordered the evacuation of Coast Guard personnel and families today at 0710L. At 2300L Hurricane Ivan was located 725 nm (833 sm) southeast of Key West moving northwesterly (300 degrees) at 11 kts (13 mph),the storm has slowed down by 2kts in the past six hours. Right now closest point of approach to Key West based on the 2300L advisory is now 26 nm (30 sm) west at 1300L on Monday. This is subject to change, but unless something changes dramatically we can expect a Category Four Hurricane near Key West on Monday, 13 September. Onset of 35 kts (40 mph) winds should start as early as Sunday evening (2100L) and 50 kts (58 mph) winds on station by Monday morning (0300L). The U.S. Coast Guard, as part of the Department of Homeland Security, is taking proactive measures to minimize the risks to the safety of life at sea, our commercial port infrastructure and the marine environment in the Florida Keys. These measures included marine information broadcasts, flights over our busy sea-lanes in the Florida Straits, monitoring of the movement of vessels and cargos in port areas to protect infrastructure and prevent the spill of harmful materials in our waterways. We continue to monitor the progress and potential impact of IVAN and we have re-positioned many of our assets to allow us to provide immediate support to those areas impacted. This includes any sea or inland rescue efforts required, potential medevac flights, port and navigational assessments and response to oil or chemical spills into our waterways. Recovery from IVAN will be a significant challenge, but we are not alone. FEMA has done a fantastic job helping those struck by Charley and Frances, and is prepared to do the same for IVAN. Additionally, all of the DHS partners including ICE, CBP and USBP are prepared to provide assistance to local and state agencies. AN ADVANCE WORD OF CAUTION FOR BOATERS: Check with local authorities before entering any storm-damaged area. Do not rush down to your boat. Do not try to reach your boat until authorities have made safe access available. Do not try to board a partially sunken boat; seek salvage assistance from a professional. Watch out for oil, gasoline or chemical spills and report them to the Coast Guard. Semper Paratus..."Always Ready" Phillip J. Heyl, CAPT, USCG Commander, Sector Key West |
- IVAN |
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I live in the Florida Keys and they have already stated that visitors, tourist, and people in Mobile Homes must evacuate today. I myself, daughter and grandgirls will be out of here Sat am. We only have two lanes to get out of the Keys and that makes it a little more diffcult. Hope this has been of some help? If the Keys get hit, there will be not much left for homes. |
- Public Safety Announcement Florida Keys | ||||||||||
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POSTED BY:::midge Jolly
MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH
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- Frances..........Ivan |
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We return home after having spent Frances on the mainland, in the path, experiencing incoveniences, tornadoes and much rain, but all are well.
As all island dwellers know, any inconvenience on land is likely preferrable to island bound with no way out.
As we drove through the keys this evening, many homes/businesses remain shuttered and prepared for the Ivan after experiencing TS winds and rain with Frances.
Our yard, gardens and roads all show signs of high wind, rain and rising water. All damage repairable.
We have brought our suitcases in, unpacked nothing except the cats and await news of Ivan, another extreme storm. LIkely we will evacuate again within the next 48 hours.
Ivan has already wreaked havoc on Grenada and we hold hope for safety for the remaining islands.
wishing all well.
please........if you email me and I do not respond, it is because we are on the road, without power, etc. we all appreciate your good wishes and wish you the same.
midge Jolly, midwife
mariposa en los arboles
MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH
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- keys "cautiously optimistic" |
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It is a lovely morning here in the Fabulous Florida Keys.
Beautiful thunderheads rolling in from the East with a crystal clear sky full of stars and waning moon lighting up the clouds as is cloud to cloud lighting. A fresh breeze is a rare treat in September.
The county Emergency Management is monitoring Frances approach, but is still activated at day-to-day levels according to their website at 5AM 9/1.
After close to 30 year years living in the lower Keys, Our family and business hurricane plan include us leaving with the approach of a category 3 storm, so leave we do. Home and business shutters staged for hanging this AM; office and home final packing up this AM. Supplies stocked in house for our return we will be unplugging all electrical appliances save the fridges, putting official US Postal Service HOLD requests in our mailboxes and off we go to Citrus County. Even Citrus on the west coast above Tampa is inside "the cone" of possibility by NHC, but is exponentially preferrable to being in the keys during this awesomely powerful storm.
Some weather and news personnel sugget that leaving in advance of an official evacuation order may put us in the way of "those who really need to evacuate". Somehow, we feel that living out in the ocean at sea level puts one in the category of "those who really need to evacuate", if they feel it is prudent.
While some folks here are "getting ready" for Frances, few are preparing to leave. Still little action in the hardware stores as of late in day on Tuesday; will see what today brings with increasing projection of a Florida landfall.
If you are unsure what to do to prepare here are a few links that may be of help:
boat preparation http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/61798tip3.htm
general Monroe County info---lots of essentials specific to the Florida Keys http://www.state.fl.us/monroe/pages/hurrican/hprepcov.htm
GREAT SITE more general info---with many links specific to pre and post storm info http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu/hurricane%20links.htm
For those unfamiliar with the geography of the Keys, it is a chain of islands connected by bridge extending ~150 miles from the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Most of the islands are at sea level, our property floods regularly during our highest annual tides and when winds are pushing from the west. The highest point on Key West is ~12'; Solares Hill. From the county survival info "Because the Florida Keys consists of a chain of small, low-lying islands, we are vulnerable to both the high winds and storm surge associated with hurricanes. The reef that many people think protects the keys from hurricanes extends all along the length of the keys, but did not save the hundreds of people who died during the great Labor Day Hurricane of 1935." It is important to note that those folks had little warning and certainly no way to evacuate timely.
Will hopefully post again before we leave after noon today. Husband headed to town to finalize some landscaping work before we head out, will ask him to take pulse and share his observations as soon as possible.
Eagerly awaiting reports from our island families throughout the Caribbean as Frances passes.
Holding the vision of safety for all island dwellers.
midge Jolly, midwife
mariposa en los arboles
MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH
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- from Emergency Management website | ||||||
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Hurricane Advisory Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 1:29 PM
midge Jolly
MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH
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- FRANCES-lower keys quiet, little preparation |
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Just returning from Key West where all is quiet. Hard to say whether folks are already prepared after the close brush with H. Charley on 8/13, just over two weeks ago.
Husband was in hardware stores today on business and reports all uneventful, low volume of customers in town.
This evening traffic was quiet, Grocery store, business as usual. My son and I were the only ones picking up additional supplies, back up prescriptions tonight.
We are on Sugarloaf Key, MM19. Our family and business are now operating under our own hurricane protocols. Our home was damaged beyond repair during Georges in 1998. We evacuated then, thank goodness, so we are not eager to be in the Keys during a category 3 or stronger storm. NO shelters are open here once storms reach category 3.
We have staged all shutters for house and plywood for business. We continue to tidy up loose ends with business and home; plan to pack up office and home for evac tomorrow, waiting for 11AM 8/31 advisory from NHC before actually putting up shutters. Family/friends on mainland expecting us as soon as we can get there. Pets prepped for evac. Looking to evacuate late Wednesday unless something changes dramatically; would actually be earlier if business obligations did not require staying until Wednesday afternoon.
Most people taking a wait and see attitude and depending on the "experts" to tell them when/what to do.
Local weather reporting out of Miami is a mix of following the NHC projected cone of possibility to outright prediction that the HIGHs will merge, preventing any northward turn and pushign Frances into south Florida.
Hoping for safety of other island dwellers and wishing for a fish storm.
midge jolly in the lower keys
mariposa en los arboles
Sugarloaf Key
May Peace Prevail on Earth
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