Unpredictable storm could lash state’s east coast
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Residents fill sandbags in East Palatka. -
Residents fill sandbags in East Palatka. -
Residents fill sandbags in East Palatka.
By F.W. Broschart
Palatka Daily News
fbroschart@palatkadailynews.com
County officials are planning for the possible effects of an increasingly erratic Hurricane Dorian that is growing in strength and are urging residents to continue preparing.
According to the National Weather Service, a high-pressure area in the Atlantic Ocean is slowing Dorian and driving it farther south. On Friday, the storm was predicted to hit the state’s east coast Tuesday before moving north, dumping inches of rain and possibly hitting parts of the state with tropical storm- or hurricane-force winds, depending on its track.
The hurricane was upgraded to Category 3 on Friday, and the weather service warned it could continue to gain strength before it makes landfall.
“There’s going to be some rain locally with the nor’easter that’s coming through,” Putnam County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Paul Flateau said. “As for the hurricane, the forecast model has moved back to after the weekend.”
According to the weather service, the storm could move north across the state as a tropical storm or a hurricane, depending on the track it takes, and could hit the area with heavy winds.
The hurricane is predicted to bring heavy rain — possibly up to 20 inches in some areas — across the county, Flateau said. As of Friday, officials and forecasters were not sure what impact Putnam County could expect from winds.
Flooding remains a serious concern, officials warn. Flateau said the predicted rainfall for Dorian was similar to rainfall experienced during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
“Places that are known to flood will probably be seeing flood-like conditions again,” Flateau warned. “If you experienced flooding in Hurricane Irma, it’s probably going to be the same.”
As of Friday afternoon, shelters were not open, Flateau said, since officials were still trying to determine more precisely when the storm would hit and what it would bring.
Flateau said he was happy to see many Putnam County residents were taking the storm seriously and were preparing by buying food, water, gasoline and other essentials.
Officials are stressing the importance of residents knowing whether they are in flood or evacuation zones.
“We want people to be informed and know their evacuation zones,” Flateau said. “If we order an evacuation, we are going to do it by zones, not by street or part of the county.”
Residents can learn if they are in a flood, storm surge or hurricane evacuation zone at gis.putnam-fl.com, Flateau said.
“Know your evacuation zone,” Flateau said. “And if you haven’t started your preparations yet, you’ve got to get it done. Don’t wait until the last minute.”