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The NHC has been trying to stress to not rely on the cone AFTER 3 days out..because there could be significant errors. What is going to determine where Ike goes is the conditions Ike may run into...land masses, troughs, etc..models cannot predict all of that with any certainty. I saw Dr. Lyons and he was saying that everyone from Florida (meaning all of Florida, in which the Keys would be included) all the way to the central gulf states should be keeing an eye on Ike. Here ispart of the 9:00AM Hurricane Statement regarding the Keys: AS OF 900 AM...MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS ORDERED A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR ALL VISITORS...RECREATIONAL VEHICLES...TRAVEL AND BOAT TRAILERS. VISITORS SHOULD LEAVE THE FLORIDA KEYS...AND OFFICIALS SUGGEST RELOCATING TO HOTELS ON THE MAINLAND WELL AWAY FROM COASTAL AREAS. TOLL COLLECTION HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AT THE CARD SOUND BRIDGE. VISITORS NEEDING TO FIND INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE HOTELS IN FLORIDA MAY CALL THE VISIT FLORIDA VISITOR ASSISTANCE HOT LINE AT 1-800-287-8598. AT THIS TIME EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS PLANNING TO ISSUE A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER FOR ALL RESIDENTS IN LOW LYING AREAS AND MOBILE HOMES BEGINNING SUNDAY AT 700 AM. CURRENTLY...GENERAL MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS FOR FLORIDA KEYS RESIDENTS WILL BEGIN ON SUNDAY IN THREE PHASES. BEGINNING WITH ALL LOWER KEYS RESIDENTS...INCLUDING THE CITY OF KEY WEST AT 800 AM SUNDAY...MIDDLE KEYS RESIDENTS INCLUDING MARATHON AND KEY COLONY BEACH BEGINNING AT NOON SUNDAY...AND FINALLY THE UPPER KEYS RESIDENTS...INCLUDING ISLAMORADA AND OCEAN REEF AT 400 PM SUNDAY. THE EVACUATION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NOON ON MONDAY...BEFORE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE. THE SHELTER AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY...JUST OFF THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT U.S. ROUTE 40...TAMIAMI TRAIL...WILL BE OPENING 800 AM SUNDAY. ADDITIONAL SHELTERS ON THE MAINLAND WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. AT THIS TIME...ALL COUNTY...STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY. THE KEY WEST AND MARATHON AIRPORTS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR ALL COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS AND GENERAL AVIATION THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY EVENING. So, wherever you are, you can read the Local Hurricane Statements that are at the very top of the Main page. They contain some pretty important information. We will have a better idea by tomorrow night, I believe, so also pay attention to your local news stations. |