The Monroe County Joint Information Center (JIC) uses information gathered during the county coordination call and includes emergency preparation activities from Monroe County, Florida Keys municipalities, National Weather Service Key West, and community partners.
THERE ARE NO EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ACTIONS IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.
Monroe County Emergency Management is coordinating with the National Weather Service Key West to advise residents on specific details of Tropical Storm Helene’s impacts on the Florida Keys. Monroe County and its partners activated the Monroe County Joint Information Center this morning.
“At this time, with the current forecast, we are encouraging residents to be smart. We plan to keep operations as normal as possible but please be safe if squalls are coming through,” said Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley. “The guiding principle is to be smart and be safe.”
Monroe County Government offices are open as regularly scheduled
Monroe County schools are open at this time.
Airports are open.
Garbage service will run as normal, but may be delayed on Thursday
Florida State Parks in Monroe County are closed Wednesday and Thursday. Campers have been evacuated or are in the process.
Utilities are standing by to respond to any outages, if any.
National Weather Service Key West Update
The latest update to the weather brief concerning Tropical Storm Helene for the Florida Keys:
The Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Middle and Lower Keys, from west of Channel 5 Bridge to Key West, and including Dry Tortugas.
A Coastal Flood Warning for saltwater flooding is in effect for all of the Florida Keys.
Prepare now for:
Storm Surge flooding, with potential saltwater flooding of 1 to 3 feet above ground level at the lowest elevations and shoreline. Flooding may extend over streets and low elevation properties a few blocks from the shoreline, and occur most likely Wednesday night through Thursday evening.
Tropical storm force sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph in the Lower and Middle Keys and 25 to 35 mph from Islamorada through Ocean Reef are forecast, accompanied by frequent thundery squalls with damaging wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph and an isolated tornado or two. These winds may arrive in the Keys as early as this afternoon, but most likely arrive tonight around midnight. These wind conditions are expected to continue throughout the day Thursday.
Heavy rainfall possible with amounts most likely in the 2 to 4 inch range, with a few locations receiving as much as 6 inches through Friday.
Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to move northward across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and Thursday, reaching the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday as major hurricane. Helene is expected to be a large tropical cyclone with storm surge, wind and rainfall impacts extending far to the east of its center.
Protective actions on land for storm surge (saltwater) flooding and strong wind gusts should be completed by sunset Wednesday evening. Protective actions for docked or moored boats should be completed as early as possible Wednesday.
Occasional thundery squalls with strong tropical storm force wind gusts and poor visibility in heavy downpours. Some tree and utility line damage may occur, with unsecured lightweight outdoor items blown about.
Florida Keys residents and visitors should use caution this weekend when driving due to windy and squally conditions.
Please note:
The County does NOT supply sandbags to residents. With our type of flooding issues, sandbags have proven to be insufficient in the past. The City of Key West has sand available.
Monroe County Emergency Management is at a level 3: heightened monitoring.
For tourism, visit www.fla-keys.com. To get emergency information about the storm, sign up for Alert!Monroe at www.monroecountyem.com.