Due to the storm’s current track, this storm poses a threat to southeast Florida and requires close monitoring. The St. Lucie County Emergency Operations Center is monitoring this storm.

St. Lucie County EOC is participating in state sponsored conference calls in conjunction with the National Hurricane Center. We will continue to monitor the storm track and will advise as additional information is provided with the National Weather Service. St. Lucie County is recommending that citizens review their plan for storm preparations. For more information on Hurricane Preparedness, visit www.stlucieco.gov/eoc.

COUNTY ACTIONS:
• County Administration, Public Safety, fire rescue, law enforcement and other outside officials met at 5:00 p.m. this afternoon to discuss Plan of Action.

• It is recommended that if residents are choosing to evacuate that they make those arrangements immediately. Any resident that has experienced flooding in their home during the past two weeks should evacuate. It is recommended that those residents stay with a friend or evacuate out of town.

• There will be No Special Needs facilities/shelters in St. Lucie County available. Due to Hurricane Frances, the Health Department does not have the staff nor the supplies to shelter any Special Needs patients. Those Special Needs patients who can self-transport are requested to leave the area of suspected landfall and seek shelter in an unaffected area. This evacuation should occur as soon as possible to avoid traffic congestion as a large number of citizens are expected to be leaving the county. Please take your prescription bottles with you to facilitate refills of medication. It is important that food, water, clothing and any special needs be taken with you. For Special Needs information ONLY, call (772) 461-5201. All other calls should be made to the Hurricane Information Line (462-2766).

• Indian River Drive, from Savannah Road south to the Martin County line, is open to residents/local traffic only.

• Offices Closed Friday, September 24, until further notice:
o St. Lucie County Government offices
o St. Lucie County School Board
o St. Lucie County Courts
o City of Port St. Lucie
o City of Fort Pierce
o Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (Customer Lobby and Drive Through)
o County Health Department

• Public Schools in St. Lucie County are still closed until further notice.

• Private Schools Closed Friday, September 24, until further notice:
o St. Anastasia School
o John Carroll High School

• Hurricane Information Line opened at 1 p.m. today, Thursday, September 23. Number is (772) 462-2766. Open 24 hours a day until further notice.

• Landfill hours are 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. No free disposal. Normal rates apply.

• All political signs must be removed by noon on Friday, September 24. Code enforcement officials will remove after that time.

• Army Corp of Engineers will have free tarps available at the St. Lucie County Civic Center tomorrow, Friday until 5 p.m. They are no longer available at the Old K-mart at the City Center site in Port St. Lucie. The Salvation Army is now closed at the Old K-mart site at City Center in Port St. Lucie.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS:
None at this time.

Nothing earth shattering as of yet, but it's bad that there will not be a special needs shelter in St. Lucie County. Not surprising though considering the restoration from Frances. However, one should monitor the page:

http://www.stlucieco.gov/eoc/index.asp

for more details over the next few days as I'm sure it will change very quickly...