Keys Evacuations Continue
… Pets Can Go With Owners to Miami Shelter
A mandatory resident evacuation for all the Florida Keys is in effect due to a possible threat from Hurricane Ike. The evacuation is likely to continue through Monday afternoon, prior to the arrival of tropical storm force winds in the Keys expected late Monday night or very early Tuesday morning.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reports very light traffic on the Overseas Highway and no delays. Officials are asking owners of all high-profile vehicles, including recreational vehicles and travel trailers, to depart the Keys.
Monroe County Emergency Management Director Irene Toner reports officials have worked out an agreement with Miami-Dade County so that Keys residents can evacuate with their pets to the Monroe shelter at Florida International University as long as the pet is properly caged. Toner said upon arrival at the shelter, Miami-Dade Animal Services will transport the pet to their facility and care for it there during the storm. Just prior to evacuees return to the Keys, Animal Services will bring the pet back to the FIU shelter to be reunited with it owner.
All Keys hospitals have closed.
U.S. Coast Guard officials are advising all boaters to stay off the water as the Coast Guard has scaled back equipment and personnel assets to prepare for the storm, thus there is a lack of resources to respond to emergencies.
Boat owners should be completing hurricane preparations to secure their vessels. All live-aboard boaters must evacuate their vessels, authorities said.
Monroe County Airports Director Peter Horton reports the last flight prior to the storm is to leave Key West International at 7:05 p.m. this evening. Rental car counters in Key West, still have some availability, and are to close at 10 p.m. The terminal at Florida Keys Marathon Airport has ceased operations. Both airfields are to close for general aviation sometime Monday afternoon, Horton said. The final Greyhound bus prior to the storm is to depart at 8:55 a.m. Monday.
Monroe County and the City of Key West have made arrangements for free roundtrip bus services to the FIU shelter for those that do not have their own transportation. Schedules are posted on the county’s Web site at www.monroecounty-fl.gov or on the County’s TV station on Comcast Cable Channel 76.
The City of Key West’s hurricane evacuation buses are to continue transportation services to the FIU shelter until 8 p.m. Sunday night and operate Monday from 7 a.m. to noon. Passengers interested in using the evacuation shuttle must be at one of the following stops before noon Monday to guarantee transportation:
-Douglass Gym, 111 Olivia Street, in Bahama Village
-Key West High School, 2100 Flagler Ave.
-Northside Drive behind Searstown
-Bernstein Park, 5th Avenue and 5th Street on Stock Island
More details on the Key West bus service is available at (305) 293-6426.
To assist visitors and residents needing to locate hotel rooms outside the Florida Keys, Visit Florida has established an online and operator-assisted hotel availability resource pool for evacuees. Go to www.visitflorida.com or call 1-800-287-8598.
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ADDITIONAL HELP AND RESOURCES
Keys Visitors Assistance: (800) 771-KEYS
Visit Florida Hotel Hotline: (800) 287-8598
Monroe County Emergency Information: (800) 955-5504
County Public Access Television: Channel 76 on Comcast Cable
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