Monroe County Joint Information Center Updates: Hurricane Milton

Updates as they are made can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/JIC.

The Monroe County Emergency Management Joint Information Center (JIC) uses information gathered from Monroe County, Florida Keys municipalities, National Weather Service Key West, and community partners.

Monroe County Emergency Management is coordinating with the National Weather Service Key West and its partners to advise residents on specific details of Hurricane Milton’s impacts on the Florida Keys.

Situation Update

  • No evacuation protective orders are in place or expected at this time
  • Residents and visitors are urged to monitor the storm, have a plan, and be prepared to take personal or business protective actions, if needed.

Be prepared for:

  • Downed tree limbs with a few downed trees possible.
  • Isolated to scattered power outages
  • Some fences or signs may be damaged.
  • Hazardous crosswinds on elevated bridges, including Boca Chica, Niles Channel, and 7 Mile Bridges.

Latest Updates

  • Monroe County schools will be closed on Thursday. Expect normal operations on Friday.
  • Snake Creek drawbridge is locked down and will not open for boat traffic.
  • All 11 state parks in Monroe County are closed through Thursday.
  • Solid Waste: Collection service to take place on Thursday, potential delays due weather.
  • Bus schedules: Key West Transit and the Lower Keys Shuttle will be suspending service Thursday. Conch Connect will be suspending service until noon on Thursday.
  • All FDOT construction projects in Monroe County are temporarily suspended.
  • Damage Assessment Teams are on standby.

National Weather Service Key West Update

Hurricane Milton will move northeastward and make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida this evening. Milton is currently a Category 3 hurricane and could still be a major hurricane when it reaches the coast.

  • A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for all of the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to Key West.
  • A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for all of the Florida Keys.

Potential impacts to the Florida Keys from Hurricane Milton include:

  • Storm surge flooding, with saltwater flooding of 1 to 3 feet above ground level in low-elevation areas from this evening through Thursday morning. Storm surge flooding will persist into Thursday night for the Bayside communities of the Upper Keys. Atlantic-facing shorelines will continue to experience crashing waves and overwash through tonight, leading to saltwater flooding in the adjacent neighborhoods. Water levels for these routinely vulnerable neighborhoods could approach 2 to 2.5 feet above ground level.
  • Tropical storm-force wind gusts are ongoing across the Florida Keys. Near tropical storm-force winds likely will linger through noon on Thursday.
  • Thundery squalls with localized wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph through Thursday morning. Observations across the Florida Keys continue to sample wind gusts up to 55 to 60 mph during passing squalls. These squalls will also bring blinding downpours and cause ponding in low-elevation areas and streets.
  • Potential for isolated tornadoes across the Upper Keys through this evening.
  • Additional rainfall of around 1 inch, with localized totals up to 2 inches, is possible through Thursday morning. Flooding of low-elevation streets and poor drainage areas will be possible in areas impacted by heavy downpours. Persistent areas of water will contain a mix of salt and freshwater.

Residents and visitors in the Florida Keys should be in the hunker-down phase as tropical storm-force wind gusts are ongoing.

National Weather Service Key West Briefings

Emergency Information

To get emergency information about the storm, sign up for Alert!Monroe at www.monroecountyem.com/alertmonroe.

For tourism updates, visit www.fla-keys.com.

Airports

Open, check airlines for delays or cancelations. Airline information: www.eyw.com.

Government Office Closures

  • Monroe County government: Offices closed on Thursday, working remotely where possible.
    • Monroe County Emergency Management is at a level 2: partially activated
    • Local State of Emergency enacted
    • All registered Special Needs patients have been contacted.
  • City of Key West: Open on Thursday
  • City of Marathon: Closed on Wednesday
  • City of Layton: Working remotely on Thursday, phone calls and emails will be answered.
  • City of Key Colony Beach: Open
  • Village of Islamorada: Open
  • Florida Dept. of Health in Monroe County: Closed on Thursday
  • 16th Judicial Circuit: Closed on Thursday (www.keyscourts.net)
  • Clerk of the Court: Closed on Thursday

Bus Services

  • The City of Key West’s Lower Keys Shuttle: No service on Wednesday and Thursday
  • Key West Transit: No service on Wednesday and Thursday
  • Monroe County’s Conch Connect: Suspended service through noon on Thursday
  • JGT Route 301/302 Upper Keys: Normal operations at this time, but will not run when winds reach 35 mph.
  • Monroe County Social Services Special Transportation Service (STS): No service on Thursday

Evacuation Order

There are no evacuation orders in place for residents or visitors.

  • Those who live on boats, RVs, campers, or in mobile homes: please seek safe shelter for Wednesday and Thursday.

Garbage Service

  • Waste Management in Key West and the Lower Keys: Normal operations on Thursday, with possible delays due to weather.
    • For cancelations on Wednesday:
      • County: Wednesday’s yard waste will be recovered on Oct. 16. Recycling will be recovered on Thursday and fully caught up on Friday.
      • City of Key West: Wednesday’s service will be on Thursday, Thursday’s service will be on Friday, and Friday’s service will be on Saturday.
  • Marathon Garbage Service (Middle Keys) and Key Sanitary Service (Upper Keys): No changes at this time
  • Village of Islamorada: No changes at this time

Garbage Service Providers

  • Lower Keys & Key West – Waste Management of Florida (Key West to 7-Mile Bridge) 305-296-8297 (www.wmfloridastorm.com)
  • Middle Keys – Marathon Garbage Service (7-Mile Bridge to MM 72.5) 305-743-5165 (marathongarbageservice.com)
  • Islamorada – Island Disposal (MM 72.5-91)305-393-3300
  • Upper Keys – Keys Sanitary Service (MM 91-102) 305-451-2025 (keyssanitaryservice.com)

Hospitals and Trauma Star

Sand Bags

The County does not supply residents with sandbags. With our type of flooding issues, sandbags have proven insufficient in the past. The unique geological composition of the island chain (typically porous coral limestone and coral rock) allows water to rise through the ground, making sandbags inadequate. While sandbags may provide some protection against water entering home entryways, particularly from vehicle wake in urban areas, they do not prevent water from rising through the ground. If you are still looking for solutions, please visit a local hardware store for options.

  • The City of Key West provides sand at Boog Powell Court, the ballfields off 14th Street and 1020 Emma St. in Bahama Village. Community members concerned about possible flooding are urged to help themselves, but they must provide their own bags. Shovels are at the site, but you must fill your own bags.
  • The City of Marathon is giving sand away on the southeast corner of Marathon Community Park. Bring bags and shovels.

Schools

Monroe County Schools will be closed on Thursday. Expect normal operations on Friday.

Monroe County School District

Any changes can be found on the school board’s website and social media.

College of the Florida Keys

The College’s Key West Campus and Middle Keys and Upper Keys Centers will be closed, and all classes will be canceled through Thursday.

Shelter Locations

No shelter openings have been announced at this time.

State Parks

All 11 State Parks in Monroe County are closed on Thursday.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West

  • All base operations, except security and fire, remain closed until Thursday at noon
  • Navy Exchange/Mini-marts remain closed until Thursday at noon
  • Naval Branch Health Clinic will be closed until Thursday at 1 p.m.
  • The Commissary is open. Please avoid parking and leaving vehicles in that parking lot during business hours.
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