Duane C. Fernandez Sr.
Sep 4, 20193 min
Volusia County is under a hurricane warning and storm surge warning as
Hurricane Dorian begins its movement up Florida’s east coast.
Residents can expect sustained tropical storm force winds of 40 to 45
mph by midday Tuesday, with gusts up to 75 to 85 mph. A few tornadoes
are possible today and tonight, with the greatest threat along the
immediate coast.
Any wobble to the west would bring very heavy rain and the potential
for hurricane-force winds to Florida's east coast tomorrow through
Wednesday.
Sustained tropical storm winds in Volusia County are expected to occur
between noon and 8 p.m. Tuesday and last for 24 hours. The county can
expect beach erosion and a storm surge of 4 to 7 feet.
Hurricane Dorian remains a major hurricane and is forecast to remain
powerful and very dangerous through mid-week. The latest forecast track
is essentially unchanged, with a very slow motion today and tonight near
Grand Bahama Island. Dorian is still forecast to move dangerously close
to Florida as it turns northwest late tonight, then parallels the coast
Tuesday and Wednesday.
The forecast track takes the center of the hurricane only 40 to 50
miles off central Florida’s coast. A westward shift could bring the
core of the major hurricane to the immediate coast. Even a small
westward deviation will increase winds, rain impacts for all areas, and
storm surge along the coast.
Residents are encouraged to be in place where they’re going to ride
out the storm by tonight.
Evacuations
A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for residents who live on the
beachside, in low-lying areas, and RV and mobile homes throughout the
county. If you plan to evacuate, now is the time! If you choose to
ignore the mandatory order, you are taking 100% responsibility for
yourself; police, fire and emergency medical services will not be able
to respond to emergencies during the storm.
Curfew
The Volusia County Council has issued an emergency curfew from 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 3, through 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, for cities and
unincorporated areas east of the Halifax River. The restriction does not
apply to authorized public safety personnel.
Shelters
The shelter at David Hinson Middle School, Daytona Beach, is at
capacity.
Persons seeking shelter at a Special Needs Shelter may bring only one
caregiver with them.
Closures
· Public schools will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 3; Wednesday, Sept.
4; and Thursday, Sept. 5. All school-related activities on or off campus
are canceled through Thursday.
· Daytona Beach International Airport will close at 6 p.m. today.
Persons with questions about their flight should contact their air
carrier directly.
· County offices and public libraries will be closed Tuesday and
Wednesday.
· All bridges crossing the Halifax River will be closed when the
sustained wind speed reaches 39 mph. Individual cities are responsible
for managing re-entry.
Landfill and transfer station operating hours
The West Volusia Transfer Station, Tomoka Farms Road Landfill and
administrative offices will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Weather permitting, both facilities will reopen for normal business
hours on Thursday, Sept. 5. The landfill will be open from 7 a.m. to
5:30 p.m., and the transfer station will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Unincorporated waste collection
Garbage, recycling and yard trash collection services for
unincorporated Volusia County will be suspended on Tuesday, Sept. 3; and
Wednesday, Sept. 4. Do not place containers, recycling bins or yard
trash debris curbside for collection on these days.
The collection schedule for unincorporated Volusia County on Thursday
and Friday are dependent on weather conditions. Waste collection
services will resume and be announced as soon as possible once the storm
clears and roads are passable.
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is a no-wake zone until water recedes to its normal
level.
Train activity
All train activity on the Central Florida Rail Corridor has ceased
until further notice. The corridor closure affects SunRail, Amtrak, CSX
freight, and other railroads that use the corridor.
Volusia County Community Information