While the golf coast is still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, we now wait to see what damage Hurricane Irma will do. Hurricane Irma is now at a Category 5, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic. The storm is one of three hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, the first time since 2010 that three active hurricanes have been in the Atlantic, according to CNN Weather. Yesterday Irma plowed through Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic and also hit a few small northern Caribbean islands where at least 10 people were killed. In Puerto Rico, a state of emergency has been declared and residents have been cleaning stores out of food and drinking water.
Per CNN, nearly 16 million people across 10 countries, states and territories in the Atlantic are in the path of Hurricane Irma. Authorities warn the storm could generate waves 23 feet high, evacuate as soon as you can if you are in the pathway of Irma in Florida. As of now 31,000 people have evacuated Florida but there is over 6 million in Florida on the coastal regions that may be effected. The Florida Keys has been asked to evacuate and hospitals in Florida are also evacuating preparing for Hurricane Irma. The National Hurricane Center predicts Irma may hit southern Florida as early as this weekend.
Currently Miami Beach Mayor, Phillip Levine, asks for everyone to evacuate Miami immediately and take shelter. The four shelters that opened Wednesday are:
- South Miami Senior High: 6856 SW 53rd St, Miami, FL 33155
- North Miami Beach Senior High: 1247 NE 167th St, Miami, FL 33162
- Felix Varela Senior High: 15255 SW 96th St, Miami, FL 33196
- Darwin Fuchs Pavilion: Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center (pet friendly): 10901 Southwest 24th Street, Miami, FL, United States, 33165
These shelters have the ability to house 8,000 people. As of now Irma is heading towards South Florida and the Keys. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued Wednesday evening, marking Miami-Dade’s first major evacuation in 12 years. Residence in surrounding areas are also being asked to evacuate as Irma continues to barrel through the Caribbean. Residence are urged to not wait till it’s too late and seek shelter immediately. Below are Sites Helpful during Hurricane Irma:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ – Best resource on information on all three Hurricanes and also have audio podcast regarding Irma.
CNN Interactive Storm Tracker:
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/storm-tracker/ – WIth the Interactive CNN Storm Tracker you can view the latest maps, forecasts and get the latest live updates.
Delta has added flights and upsized aircraft on flights out of south Florida as Hurricane Irma approaches. Meanwhile, a weather waiver has been issued to reflect the expected travel disruption to destinations in south Florida and throughout the Caribbean. The waiver allows customers to change plans without incurring a fee. For more information and updates from Delta during Irma visit their site located here: http://news.delta.com/update-delta-adds-flights-florida-irma-approaches.
Orlando Sentinel Shelter Lists Sites:
Here’s a list of general population, special-needs and pet-friendly shelters in Central Florida provided by Orlando Sentinel. NOTE: All shelters are closed until county administrators decide to open them based on the storm’s track and intensity. Not all shelters will open during the storm. They will open according to capacity needs. Stay with Orlando Sentinel site for an updated list of open shelters.
Below is the list of shelters with addresses and details on if they accept pets or not.
BREVARD COUNTY
Does not list shelters until they are open. Brevard County residents should check the Brevard County Emergency Management website.
LAKE COUNTY
All Lake County shelters are pet-friendly. People with health or medical conditions that may require transportation or special assistance should register here or call 352 343-9420. Lake County residents should check the Lake County Emergency Management website.
- Astatula: Astatula Elementary School, 13925 Florida Ave. Accepts pets.
- Clermont: Lost Lake Elementary, 1901 Johns Lake Road. Accepts pets and special-needs.
- Lady Lake: Villages Elementary, 695 Rolling Acres Road. Accepts pets and special-needs.
- Leesburg: Leesburg Elementary School, 2229 South St. Accepts pets and special-needs.
- Treadway Elementary, 10619 Treadway School Road. Accepts pets.
- Mascotte: Mascotte Elementary, 460 Midway Ave. Accepts pets.
- Mount Dora: Round Lake Elementary School, 31333 Round Lake Road. Accepts pets.
- Paisley: Spring Creek Elementary School, 44440 Spring Creek Road. Accepts pets.
- Umatilla: Umatilla Elementary, 401 Lake St. Accepts pets and special-needs.
ORANGE COUNTY
Does not list shelters until they are open. Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Wednesday night that shelters are expected to open Saturday morning. Orange County residents should check the Orange County Disaster Preparedness website.
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Does not list shelters until they are open. Osceola County residents should check the Osceola County Emergency Management website.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
People with health or medical conditions that may require transportation or special assistance should register at www.seminolecountyfl.gov/specialneeds or call 407-664-0000. Seminole County residents should check the Seminole County Emergency Management website.
- Altamonte Springs: Lake Brantley High School, 991 Sand Lake Road.
- Chuluota: Walker Elementary School, 3101 Snow Hill Road.
- Fern Park: English Estates Elementary School, 299 Oxford Road.
- Geneva: Geneva Elementary School, 275 1st St.
- Lake Mary: Crystal Lake Elementary School, 231 Rinehart Road; Lake Mary High School, 655 Longwood-Lake Mary Road; Markham Woods Middle School, 6003 Markham Woods Road.
- Longwood: Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd. Accepts pets.
- Oviedo: John Evans Elementary School, 100 Chapman Road; Hagerty High School, 3225 Lockwood Blvd.; Lawton Chiles Middle School, 1240 Sanctuary Drive; Oviedo High School, 601 King St.
- Sanford: Bentley Elementary School, 2190 Oregon Ave. Accepts pets and special-needs. Midway Elementary School, 2368 Brisson Ave.; Millennium Middle School, 21 Lakeview Drive
- Winter Springs: Highlands Elementary School, 1600 Shepard Road. Accepts special needs. Layer Elementary School, 4201 State Road 419. Accepts special needs. Winter Springs High School, 130 Tuskawilla Road
VOLUSIA COUNTY
People with health or medical conditions that may require transportation or special assistance should register here or call 800-374-9689. Volusia County residents should check the Volusia County Emergency Management website.
- Daytona Beach: Campbell Elementary School, 625 S. Keech St.; Champion Elementary School, 921 Tournament Drive; Hinson Middle School, 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd. Accepts special needs. Mainland High School, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd.; Palm Terrace Elementary School, 1825 Dunn Ave. Accepts special needs.
- DeBary: DeBary Elementary School, 88 W. Highbanks Road
- DeLand: Blue Lake Elementary School, 282 N. Blue Lake Ave.; Citrus Grove Elementary School, 729 Hazen Road. Accepts pets. DeLand Middle School, 1400 S. Aquarius Ave.; Freedom Elementary School, 1395 S. Blue Lake Ave. Accepts special needs. Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. New York Ave. Accepts pets.
- Deltona: Deltona Lakes Elementary School, 2022 Adelia Blvd.; Discovery Elementary School, 975 Abagail Drive; Heritage Middle School, 1001 Parnell Court. Accepts special needs. Pride Elementary School, 1100 Learning Lane; Spirit Elementary School, 1500 Meadowlark Drive; Sunrise Elementary School, 3155 Phonetia Drive; Timbercrest Elementary School, 2401 Eustace Ave.
- Lake Helen: Volusia Pines Elementary School, 500 E. Kicklighter Road. Workers only
- New Smyrna Beach: New Smyrna Beach High School, 1015 10th St. Accepts pets. Only used for storms up to Category 3.
- Orange City: Manatee Cove Elementary School, 734 W. Ohio Ave. Accepts pets; River Springs Middle School, 900 W. Ohio Ave.; University High School, 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave.
- Ormond Beach: Ormond Beach Middle School, 151 Domicilio Ave. Accepts pets. Only used for storms up to Category 3; Pathways Elementary School, 2100 Airport Road.
- Osteen: Osteen Elementary School, 500 Doyle Road.
- Port Orange: Atlantic High School, 1250 Reed Canal Road. Accepts special needs. Creekside Elementary School, 6801 Airport Road. Accepts special needs. Cypress Creek Elementary School, 6100 S. Williamson Blvd. Only used for storms up to Category 4. Horizon Elementary School, 4751 Hidden Lake Drive. Workers only. Sweetwater Elementary School, 5800 Victoria Gardens Blvd.
- Unincorporated: Forest Lake Elementary School, 1600 Doyle Road.
As states prepare for Hurricane Irma, Katia and Jose they are already having a gas shortage with long lines outside gas stations. I know here in Texas we have a shortage; most gas stations near me are out of gas. In Florida grocery stores are getting swamped with customers buying necessities before the hurricane hits.
This is a dangerous storm and I strongly suggest for those in the cities that may get hit to evacuate and seek shelter before it’s too late. Keep checking back for more updates on the Hurricanes.
Our prayers are with all the Hurricane victims. Stay Strong!
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Source: CNN’s Leyla Santiago, CNN Weather, CNN, National Hurricane Center, Rob Quinn, Newser Staff, Orlando Sentinel, CBS Miami
