Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Jacksonville Mayor: ‘Don’t Be Complacent’ As Irma Poses Flooding, Tornado Risk

David Luckin
/
WJCT News
Jacksonville Beach prepares for Hurricane Irma.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Saturday morning he doesn’t want residents to become complacent as they see Hurricane Irma’s shift to the west. Northeast Florida is under a hurricane warning and can expect to see effects from Irma’s outer bands as soon as midday Sunday.

“This is a major event for Duval County,” he said. “(Under) the current model, this will be a much more widespread city event in terms of wind and rain, which has flood risks, and, by the way, flooding is very dangerous.”

Weather officials are saying Irma isn’t like last year’s Hurricane Matthew, which damaged mostly coastal areas.

Irma predicted to go up West Coast of Florida

This storm is expected to have much more widespread wind damage and potential inland flooding, says Florida Public Radio Emergency Network meteorologist Jeff Huffman. The city could see flying debris, downed trees and power lines, and tornados in addition to storm surge.

Curry said he wants all residents to be wherever they’re planning to ride out the storm by 8 p.m. Saturday. He’s ordered mandatory evacuations for people living inZones A and B, as well as mobile and manufactured homes.

“I’d hoped that people would have evacuated yesterday,” Curry said Saturday. “Evacuation now is still possible if you want to leave the city. The issue is we have weather coming in now, so you’ll be in some sloppy weather.”

He’s encouraging people living in evacuation zones to utilize the city’s 12 shelters, which, as of Saturday morning, have “plenty of room.” As of 1:30 p.m. Saturday the Legends Center shelter has reached capacity. Curry said evacuees should bring bedding, food and water to shelters, but it’s OK if people don’t have those items.

“We’re going to take care of you,” Curry said.” I don’t want anyone to think they won’t be taken care of if they don’t have their own means.”

Residents who need help evacuating from the beaches should proceed to Fletcher High School, Mayport Middle School or Jacksonville Beach Elementary. Jacksonville Transportation Authority  “evacuation buses” are available throughout the weekend, weather permitting, to transport them to shelters from those locations.  

People requiring special needs transportation to a shelter should call (904) 630-CITY.

Lindsey Kilbride can be reached at lkilbride@wjct.org, 904-358-6359 or on Twitter at @lindskilbride.

Lindsey Kilbride was WJCT's special projects producer until Aug. 28, 2020. She reported, hosted and produced podcasts like Odd Ball, for which she was honored with a statewide award from the Associated Press, as well as What It's Like. She also produced VOIDCAST, hosted by Void magazine's Matt Shaw, and the ADAPT podcast, hosted by WJCT's Brendan Rivers.