Update

[Rev. Mr. Marcus Hepburn]

This is from the State EOC. Additional material will be sent shortly.

From the state EOC:

Please note that the state EOC will go to Level 1 activation on
Sunday, 9/07. The state's operational objectives for today are as
follows:

1. Support shelter operations
2. Support and expand transportation operations (Monitor VMB & 511)
3. Continue monitoring and planning for St. John river flooding and
Monitor of Lake Okeechobee
#4. DEVELOP RESPONSE PLANS FOR STRIKE OF HURRICANE IKE

Please note:
Lee county shelter numbers have dropped to 125.
DRCs open: 9 today Leon opens, tomorrow or Sunday Hendry & Lee

Weather (Meteorology):
At 8 AM EDT Friday, Tropical Storm Hanna was centered about 115 miles
east of Melbourne, FL. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph, and
Hanna is accelerating northwestward around 18 mph. Hanna is forecast
to turn more to the north while increasing in forward speed later
today as it approaches the coast of the Carolinas. No portion of
Florida's east coast falls within the average track forecast error
cone. However, tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 315
miles from the center of the storm, so tropical storm force wind gusts
are possible along Florida's immediate east central and northeast
coast with rain bands moving onshore today. Rough surf, beach
erosion, minor coastal flooding during times of high tide and deadly
rip currents along Florida’s Atlantic coast will likely be the biggest
impacts from Hanna. A High Surf Advisory is in effect through Friday
evening for the East Central Florida coast and through Saturday
morning for the Northeast Florida coast. Tides are expected to be
about 1-2 feet above normal along the east and northeast coast. Any
heavy showers from Hanna that happen to reach the eastern peninsula
areas could briefly exacerbate existing flooding conditions. The
middle portion of the St. Johns River near Sanford may rise another
tenth to two tenths of a foot during the next few days which would
push the river into major flood status at this location. The St.
Johns River near Deland has risen slightly to a level just above major
flood status. The St. Johns River near Geneva above Lake Harney is
expected to remain in major flood status for the foreseeable future.



As of 5 AM EDT Friday, the center of major Hurricane Ike was located
about 460 miles north of the Leeward Islands, or about 1,200 miles to
the east of Miami. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 125
mph, and Ike is moving to the west around 15 mph. Ike is a dangerous
Category 3 storm. A turn to the southwest is possible late Friday or
Saturday, with a turn back toward the west on Sunday. An increase in
upper level wind shear in the vicinity of Ike will likely halt any
further strengthening in the short term, but Ike is still forecast to
remain a major hurricane as it nears the southeastern Bahamas this
weekend. Steering currents in the vicinity of the Bahamas may weaken
early next week which could slow Ike's forward speed. The entire
Florida peninsula, the Keys, and areas northward into the Suwannee
Valley are currently within the average track forecast error cone
through the next 5 days. There is still some uncertainty in Ike’s
long-range forecast track.



State Actions:

SEOC is at a level 2 in response to Hurricane Gustav and in
preparation for Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike

SEOC Operational hours: 0700hrs to 1900hrs.



County Actions:

Duval County EOC - Level 2 Partial Activation



Executive Orders/ FEMA Declarations:

Executive Order 08-181

Request for Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration (Public
Assistance - Category B).



County Shelters

http://www.floridadisaster.org/gis/kml/viewer.htm



Total Population in Shelters: 25

Total Number of General Public Shelters Open: 2

Total Special Needs Shelters Open: 0

Escambia: General (1) Special Needs (0) Population: 18

Leon: General (1) Special Needs (0) Population: 7