Gov. Scott issues updates on Hurricane Matthew preparedness efforts as atorm approaches Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Wednesday, Governor Rick Scott met with emergency management officials in Tallahassee, Ft. Pierce, Rockledge and Jacksonville as the state prepares for Hurricane Matthew, a life-threatening category three storm. Florida remains under both tropical storm and hurricane watches. Governor Scott has remained in constant communication with state and local leaders, utility companies, sheriffs, and volunteer organizations who are working to ensure the state is prepared for the storm.

EVACUATIONS

More than 1.5 million Floridians are currently in evacuation zones.

• Palm Beach County: Voluntary evacuations have already started.  Mandatory evacuations are beginning today.
• Broward County: Voluntary evacuations for mobile homes and low lying areas have begun.
• St. Johns County: Mandatory evacuations begin at 6 am tomorrow for barrier islands and low lying areas.
• Duval County: Voluntary evacuations have started for Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach
• Brevard County: Mandatory evacuations for barrier islands at 3 pm today.
• St. Lucie County: Voluntary evacuations have already started.  Mandatory evacuations will begin tomorrow.
• Flagler County: Voluntary evacuations have already started.
• Indian River: Voluntary evacuations have started for barrier islands.  Mandatory evacuations begin tomorrow at 8 amfor barrier islands, mobile and manufactured homes and low lying areas.
• Martin County: Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Sewall’s Point, Hutchinson Island, Jupiter Island and mobile homes.
• Miami-Dade County: Voluntary evacuations are in effect for mobile homes.
• Nassau County: Mandatory evacuations begin at 6 am tomorrow for beaches and coastal areas.
• Volusia County: Voluntary evacuations of barrier islands today.  Mandatory evacuations begin tomorrow morning.

SHELTERS

• Currently Open Shelters:
• Atlantic High School: Delray Beach, FL  
• Boynton Beach Community High School: Boynton Beach, FL
• Lake Shore Middle School: Belle Glade, FL
• Forest Hill High School: West Palm Beach, FL
• West Boynton Recreation Center (Pet Friendly): Lake Worth, FL
• Lyons Creek Middle School: Coconut Creek, FL 
• Coral Glades High School: Coral Springs, FL
• Fox Trail Elementary School: Davie, FL 
• Rock Island Elementary/ Arthur Ashe Middle School: Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Everglades High School: Miramar, FL
• New Renaissance Middle School: Miramar, FL
• Millennium Middle School (Pet Friendly): Tamarac, FL 
• Falcon Cove Middle School: Weston, FL
• Michael M. Krop Senior Center: North Miami-Dade, FL
• Booker T. Washington Senior Center: City of Miami, FL
• Robert Morgan Senior Center: Miami, FL
• Darwin Fuchs Pavilion (Pet Friendly): Miami, FL

Coastal counties are working on opening additional shelters tonight and tomorrow morning, including shelters for people with special needs, pets and general populations. A list of all open shelters will be available at http://floridadisaster.org/shelters/summary.htm

The state is working with the American Red Cross to identify shelter capacity both during and following the storm.

The state has a 110,000 meal capacity a day, which can be delivered using 24 Emergency Response Vehicles, 31 canteens, and mobile trailers

POWER

• There are currently no power outages in Florida due to Hurricane Matthew.
• Utilities have been put on notice to be prepared to quickly report outage and restoral information once applicable. The outage reporting is expected to begin Thursday morning.
• Utilities are contacting their mutual aid partners to determine availability if external resources are needed to restore services.
• The state is monitoring the power grid for sufficient power in the state and the natural gas infrastructure for any damages that can cause a loss of service to power plants.
• Governor Scott spoke with utilities across the state yesterday to ensure utilities are pre-positioned and there are no unmet needs.

FUEL

There are no current supply, distribution or retail fuel shortages or issues. The state is monitoring for any isolated incidents of individual retailers experiencing temporary fuel shortages. These individual retailers are being quickly refueled and fuel is readily available across Florida. 

The state will continue to monitor fuel assistance requests; currently there are no requests for assistance.

The current fuel supply in the state will last for at least 8 days, even if all ports close.

The state is working with fuel partners and suppliers to increase the number trucks moving fuel from the ports to retail locations.

The state has contacted emergency fuel and equipment providers for status of emergency fuel supply and equipment.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) activated its emergency contact system for the east coast Florida school districts and colleges, and is monitoring closures made at the district and college levels.

District school closures include:

• Brevard County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Broward County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Bradford County Schools - Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Clay County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Dade County – Closed Friday.
• Duval County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Lake County Schools - Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Flagler County –  Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Glades County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Hendry County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Highlands County –  Closed Friday.
• Indian River County – Closing early today. Closed Thursday and Friday. 
• Lake County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Martin County – Closing early today. Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Marion County – Closed Friday.
• Monroe County –  Partially Closed Thursday.
• Nassau County –  Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Okeechobee County - Closed Thursday and  Friday.
• Orange County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Osceola County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Palm Beach County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Polk County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Putnam County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• St. Johns County – Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Seminole County Schools - ClosedThursday and Friday.
• St. Lucie County – Closing early today. Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Sumter County – Closing early tomorrow and closed Friday.
• Union County – Closed on Friday.  
• Volusia County Schools - Closed Thursday and Friday.
• Sumter County – Closing early Thursday. Closed Friday.
• FAU Lab school – Closed early today and is closed Thursday and Friday.
• Florida School for Deaf and Blind – Closed today, Thursday andFriday.

Universities/ college closures include:

• University of North Florida: Closed this afternoon,  Thursday through Saturday.
• Embry Riddle University: Closed  Thursday and Friday.
• Florida Atlantic University: Closed this afternoon, Thursday through Sunday.
• Florida International University: Closed Wednesday at  5:00 through Friday.
• Florida A&M University satellite campuses (in Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa): Closed today through  Sunday.
• Nova Southeastern University: Closed  Thursday and  Friday.
• University of Central Florida: Closed Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. through  Saturday.
• Broward College: Closed today through Sunday.
• Daytona State College: Closed  Thursday and Friday.
• Eastern Florida State College: Closed today through  Sunday.
• Florida State College at Jacksonville: Closed today through  Sunday.
• Florida Polytechnic University: Closed  Thursday and  Friday.
• Lake-Sumter State College: Closed  Thursday through  Sunday.
• Indian River State College: Closed today through  Sunday.
• Miami Dade College: Closed today through Friday.
• Palm Beach State College: Closed  Thursday through  Sunday.
• Seminole State College of Florida: Closed Wednesday through Sunday.
• St. Johns River State College: Closed today through Sunday.
• Valencia College: Closed Thursday through Sunday.
• Broward College: Closed today through Sunday.
• South Florida State College: Closed Thursday and Friday.
• University of Florida: Closed Friday.

GOVERNMENT CLOSURES

County and state offices are closed Thursday and Friday in the following counties:

Baker, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie and Volusia