- October 8, 2024
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Flagler County is issuing an evacuation order, beginning 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, for the barrier islands certain low lying areas in the county.
The evacuation order will go into effect at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said. Flagler County is also opening an emergency shelter at Rymfire Elementary School at 8 a.m. Wednesday, he said. Rymfire Elementary is located at 1425 Rymfire Drive.
Lord asked those Flagler County residents who could evacuate today to do so.
"If your evacuation plans are to take you to friends and family outside of the evacuation area or going to a hotel or motel, please do so today so that we can keep the roads clear for those evacuating tomorrow morning and heading to the shelters,” Lord said.
All residents living in mobile homes and RV’s countywide are included in the evacuation order, Lord said, as is the entire island, from the St. Johns County line to the Volusia County line, including Marineland through Flagler Beach.
The evacuation order also includes the following mainland communities:
The county is expected to receive an additional 10-15 inches of rain between Oct. 8 and Friday, Oct. 11, Lord said at a county press conference on Oct. 8.
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly also announced that a curfew will be instituted beginning Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
“This will continue daily until rescinded," Staly said. "We hope it will only be one night but depending on the destruction and damage and the conditions of the roads, it may continue.”
Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies will be patrolling the roadways during the storm, Staly said, unless the county begins to receive sustained winds of 45 mph.
Staly strongly urged residents to listen to the evacuation orders the county was issuing.
“We're not going to risk the safety of first responders because you fail to prepare or refuse to prepare and evacuate," Staly said. "We'll come get you as soon as the weather allows us to, or we'll get your remains, whatever it may be."
Hurricane Milton, as of a 4 p.m. Oct. 8 update from the National Hurricane Center, is once again a Category 5 storm, with sustained winds of 165 mph.
Lord said that the storm is headed in Flagler County's general direction and will likely be a Category 1 hurricane as it passes close to the county. Flagler County is currently under a hurricane warning, storm surge warning and flash flood watch, he said.
Flagler County can likely expect "high-end tropical storm force winds," with a "real potential" of hurricane force winds, beginning Wednesday evening through Thursday, Lord said.
"Here in Flagler County, we fully expect to see trees knocked down and damaged and collapsed," Lord said.
Lord said residents can also expect "widespread power outages" and some damage to buildings from loose items or fixtures.
Flooding is also a major concern. Since Saturday, Oct. 5, the county has received around 5.5 inches of rain.
"Today through Friday," Lord said, "we're expecting another 10 to 15 inches. That's probably one of our biggest concerns."
The Atlantic and Intracoastal Waterways are expected to see 3-5 feet of storm surge and Crescent and Dead Lake 2-4 feet. Just like Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, he said, some of that surge is likely to come after the storm passes.
Residents should expect similar impacts as to what occurred during and after Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Irma, he said.
"If you saw flooding water, storm surge waters, particularly from any of those three storms, there's a very good chance you're gonna see those same storm surge waters again, too, and then even for the wind impacts,” he said.
He said he would not be surprised if the county was placed under a tornado watch in the next 12 hours.
A tornado watch means conditions are right for tornados to form, while a tornado warning means a tornado has already started to form.
Flagler Beach City Commission Chair Scott Spradley urged residents to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
"This storm is not to be taken lightly," Spradley said.
Spradley also reminded residents to "take all measures to keep" themselves safe. Even after the storm, he said, stay home instead of risking encountering debris that could be hidden in flood waters, like downed power lines.
Lord said the shelter at Rymfire Elementary School will be open Wednesday through Friday. Flagler Schools announced on Oct. 7 that schools will be closed through Friday, Oct. 11, including all extracurricular activities through Thursday.
While a decision has yet to be determined about all of Friday's activities, the Flagler Palm Coast High School football game against DeLand has been postponed, as Volusia Schools have closed campuses through Sunday, Oct. 13.
FPC Athletic Director Scott Drabczyk told the Observer the school will have more information on a makeup date by the end of the week.
Lord said Flagler Schools being closed through Friday allows the county "plenty of buffer" to empty the shelters and make Rymfire Elementary ready for school operations again.
Spradley encouraged residents thinking of evacuating to not wait to do so.
"You don't have to wait until the evacuation starts at 8am tomorrow," he said. "You can do it now."
