The Flagler County government delivered a final update on Hurricane Milton Wednesday morning, headed up by Flagler Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. The prognosis for the storm is largely the same – evacuation orders took effect at 8:00 am, with a curfew set to begin at 7:00 pm and run until Thursday at 7:30 am.
Storm surge is expected to be three to five feet on the Atlantic coast and intracoastal waterway, along with two to four feet on Crescent Lake and Dead Lake. Wind speeds will almost certainly reach tropical storm intensity in Flagler County, with the possibility of hurricane speeds occurring as well. The bulk of the effects are expected to arrive Wednesday evening and continue into Thursday during the day.
The evacuation zone for the hurricane expanded slightly since the last press conference Tuesday afternoon. Areas newly under a mandatory evacuation include Flagler Estates and Methvin Road, Durrance Lane and Strickland Road, and properties directly bordering Crescent Lake and Dead Lake.
Residents who were already under an evacuation order include those living in RVs or mobile homes anywhere in Flagler County, the entirety of the barrier island from the northern to southern county borders, plus communities off of John Anderson Highway, Palm Drive, Old Kings Road, Bulow RV Park, Lambert Avenue, Palm Coast Plantation on Riverwalk Drive, and Princess Place Preserve.
A shelter opened at Rymfire Elementary School at 8:00 am on Wednesday, with accommodations present for the general population, special needs residents, and pets. Law enforcement and medical professionals will be present. A backup shelter is on standby if Rymfire fills up, but Lord held off on announcing until necessary to avoid confusion. Transportation is available for residents who need it by calling the county at (386) 313-4200.
The countywide curfew will be taking effect from 7:00 pm to 7:30 am, with patrols from the county’s law enforcement agencies to enforce it. Registered sex predators will not be allowed in the Rymfire shelter, per Sheriff Rick Staly, and are encouraged to report to the county jail to take shelter in the lobby (they will not be under detainment).
A phone line for questions about Hurricane Milton will be operated at (386) 313-4200. Residents are encouraged to call this line with questions as opposed to 911 in order to keep the latter open for emergency calls. Those in evacuation zones who haven’t yet left their homes are urged to do so as soon as possible. Those who need transportation to the county shelter at Rymfire are urged to call before noon. No roads will be formally closed during the storm, but the county is prepared to block off certain roadways if the damage necessitates it.
