Resending on behalf of Monroe County Emergency Management
ESF 14 -External Affairs / Public Information Office
Florida State Emergency Response Team (850) 921-0384
Emergency Management Officials Announce Mandatory Evacuation
for
General Florida Keys Population
Monroe County Emergency Management officials announced plans for
a mandatory evacuation for all Florida Keys residents to begin at
noon Saturday, due to a possible threat from Hurricane Wilma.
A mandatory evacuation for all mobile home dwellers and special
needs clients began Saturday at 6 a.m. Residents living aboard boats
were mandated to leave beginning Wednesday, the same time visitors,
recreational vehicles and travel-trailers were ordered to leave.
At noon Saturday, the mandatory evacuation for all residents
living from the Seven Mile Bridge through Key West goes into effect.
This includes the entire Lower Keys and Key West.
At 3 p.m. Saturday, the mandatory evacuation extends to all
residents living from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge.
This includes Marathon and the remainder of the Middle Keys.
At 6 p.m. Saturday, the mandatory evacuation continues for all
residents living from the Long Key Bridge through Ocean Reef and to
Florida City and mainland Monroe County. This includes Ocean Reef,
Key Largo, Islamorada and Flamingo.
The Monroe County shelter at Florida International University is
open to accept resident evacuees. Residents who go to the shelter
must bring their own pillows, blankets, food, medication and water.
Evacuating residents are urged to seek shelter north of Orlando if
they chose not to stay at the designated shelter at FIU. Visit
Florida, the state's official tourism agency, has set up a special
toll-free number to assist with finding accommodations in other
areas of the state. That number is 1-800-287-8598.
Officials have organized bus service to take evacuees without
transportation out of the Keys to the FIU shelter. Information can
be obtained by calling Keys emergency hotlines. The number for Key
West is 305-809-1108. For all other areas in the Keys, call
1-800-955-5504.
In order to assure the evacuation goes smoothly, tolls have been
lifted on Card Sound Road in the Upper Keys and the Florida Turnpike
Extension. The drawbridges at Snake Creek and Jewfish Creek, in
Islamorada and Key Largo respectively, are to be locked in the down
position at noon Saturday. This will prevent large-profile boats
from requesting a bridge opening, but will promote smoother traffic
flow.
Sheriff's deputies are to be stationed at key traffic lights
throughout the Keys in order to assist with traffic control during
the mandatory evacuation.
Emergency management officials will not open shelters in the
Keys.
Additional Information and Resources:
Media contacts: Greg Artman, 305-289-2578
Andy Newman, 305-542-6014
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2012 State of Florida