EOC to Activate to Level 1 – Full Activation
Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 5 Hurricane. The hurricane is expected to move closer to the Florida east coast late Monday through Tuesday night.
“Dorian is of Category 5 intensity and is forecast to remain a major hurricane into the middle of this week,” said Thomas Carpenter, Director of the Office of Emergency Management. “Some uncertainty remains in the forecast. A Florida landfall cannot be ruled out. Monitor closely for changes as Dorian is forecast to move very slowly as it makes its closest approach to the area.”
To accommodate residents of Lake County, special needs clients and those who may be evacuating from coastal counties, Lake County is opening the following six emergency shelters at noon on Monday, Sept. 2.
GENERAL PUBLIC SHELTERS
- Mount Dora High, 700 N. Highland St., Mt. Dora
PUBLIC AND PET-FRIENDLY SHELTERS
- Round Lake Elementary, 31333 Round Lake Road, Mt. Dora
- Spring Creek Elementary, 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley
PUBLIC, PET-FRIENDLY AND SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTERS
- Leesburg Elementary, 2229 South St., Leesburg
- Lost Lake Elementary, 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont
- Umatilla Elementary, 401 Lake St., Umatilla
SUPPLIES TO BRING TO SHELTERS
- One gallon of water per person and pet for three days
- Non-perishable food and snacks for three days
- Foods that meet unusual dietary requirements
- Prescriptions and emergency medications
- Important personal documents and identification
- Extra clothing, pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene supplies, and other comfort items
- Supplies needed for children and infants, such as diapers, formula, and toys
- Special items for family members who are elderly or disabled
- Chargers for small electronic devices like cell phones, tablets, and laptops. Please do not bring household appliances.
- Books, games and other ways to entertain your family and yourself
PETS AT SHELTERS
- Pets must be brought to shelters in a carrier or crate that is marked with the owner’s name, address, and two phone numbers. Owners must have documentation of up-to-date rabies vaccinations for their pets. Owners are responsible for taking care of their pets. It is recommended pet owners bring all pet supplies, such as food and water, litter and litter box and leash. Pet owners are welcome to stay with their pets in the shelter’s designated pet area until a lockdown is ordered.
- A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Service dogs may remain with their owners at any emergency shelter. Comfort pets and emotional support animals will be treated as all other pets in pet-friendly shelters and must remain crated.
- Pet-friendly emergency shelters are open only to domestic pets only. No livestock will be admitted. For livestock, it is recommended to safely mark animals and leave them in pastures.
LAKE COUNTY HAZARDS
In Lake County, hurricane hazards may include heavy rainfall, high winds, inland flooding and tornadoes. Some hazards may come with little to no warning. Residents are encouraged to develop a family communication plan, decide on a meeting location during an emergency, and prepare a disaster go-kit to include important personal, medical and legal documents. Residents should also be aware of what to bring to an emergency shelter, including food and water for three days, medication, bedding, and important documents. Pets at pet-friendly shelters must be transported in their own carriers and must be up-to-date on vaccines.
All residents, especially those living in manufactured homes, should have a safe shelter plan before an emergency strikes, to include access to a friend or relative’s site-built, fortified home 24 hours a day.
To be notified quickly of weather emergencies, residents should purchase a battery-powered NOAA weather radio and sign up to receive local notifications, such as those offered through Lake County’s AlertLake Emergency Alert System.
EOC ACTIVATION STATUS
Beginning at 7 am Monday, the EOC will be at Level 1 – Full-Scale Activation. The Citizens Information Line will open at 7 am. Monday and remain open 24/7 until further notice. Those needing information should call 352-253-9999 or visit www.lakecountyfl.gov. To receive emergency notifications, register at www.alertlake.com. For up to date information, follow Emergency Management at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFLEmergencyManagement and www.twitter.com/lakeemergency.
COUNTY CLOSURES
All offices of the Board of County Commissioners, as well as the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector, administrative offices of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Health in Lake County, will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
SANDBAGS
Sandbags will be made available at five Lake County locations from 7 a.m. until dusk (or supplies run out.) Residents must bring their own shovels and are allowed to take 20 bags of sand per household per 24-hour period. No tools will be provided at sand deployment sites and residents are responsible for filling their own sandbags. Sandbags will only be offered during designated times before a storm threat. No sandbags will be dispensed during storm conditions. Sandbags operations will cease as announced after the storm threat is over.
Fire Station 10
23023 State Road 40, Astor
Fire Station 14
18840 County Road 42, Altoona
Fire Station 39
31431 Walton Heath Ave., Sorrento
Fire Station 110
6234 County Road 561, Clermont
Solid Waste Residential Convenience Center
1200 Jackson St., Lady Lake
ASTOR – ST JOHNS RIVER
The National Weather service has issued a flood warning for the St. Johns River near Astor from Tuesday night until further notice.
The river has reached minor flooding stage at 2.3 feet. Low lying streets and yards north of Fox Road on the Lake County side of Astor, and from River Road northward on the Volusia side of the river could experience minor flooding. At this stage, water could begin to cover docks at South Moon Fishing Camp.
A no-wake zone is being enforced on the St. Johns River until further notice. An idle-speed, no-wake zone means a vessel may not travel faster than required to maintain steerageway and headway.
Before flooding occurs, residents in the area are urged to immediately move to higher ground. Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters. “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” Just six inches of moving water can knock people down and two feet of water can sweep vehicles away.
