The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

Press Release October 22, 2005 -- Hurricane Wilma -- Advisory # 15 10:00 AM

News release-for immediate release
October 22,2005- 10:00 a.m.
Contact- Major Michael Murray
472-3111


Hurricane Wilma- Advisory # 15

Hurricane Wilma is currently 480 miles southwest of Sanibel, Florida with sustained winds of 120 mph and is currently a Category 3 Hurricane. Wilma is traveling northwest @ 3-4 mph. Hurricane Wilma is currently over the northeastern Yucatan drifting northward and a continued slow northward motion is expected through today. This general motion is expected for the next 24 hours.  On Sunday, the storm is forecasted to move north and northeast into the Southeast Gulf of Mexico. Wilma is forecasted to pick up pace as it continues northeast towards South Florida. Model guidance still projects landfall between Key West and Ft.Myers mid day Monday likely as a Category 1 or 2 storm. A hurricane watch is to be expected for portions of the Central and South Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys later today.

Based upon the current predications for Hurricane Wilma, beginning, NOON Saturday, October 22, 2005 a Mandatory Evacuation has been ordered for the City of Sanibel, Florida.  From NOON Saturday until the evacuation is lifted no re-entry of the general public is allowed.

While the Sanibel Causeway will be closed for entry onto Sanibel for the general public, beginning noon, Saturday, October 22, 2005, those with Hurricane Passes or a Florida drivers license with their Sanibel address, who are completing their Hurricane Evacuation Preparations will be permitted to re-enter until Sunday, October 23, 2005 at 7:00 a.m. 

As of 8 am Saturday morning, October 22, 2005 over 150 volunteers and City employees have hit the streets of Sanibel delivering information door-to-door listing the shelters open in Lee County and driving directions to the Shelter nearest Sanibel Island, the South Fort Myers High School, 14020 Plantation Road.

The City of Sanibel has re-deployed the Recreation Department Van for transportation of citizens with no other means to transport to a Shelter.  Contact the Sanibel Police Department directly at 472-3111.

For the current list of Lee County Shelter Openings contact Lee County Emergency Management web site at www.leeeoc.com.

The possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverage, other than on one's own premises, together with the transfer, transportation, sale or purchase of any alcoholic beverage within the City of Sanibel is prohibited effective Saturday, October 22, 2005, at 12:00 noon, and continues until the State of Local Emergency is lifted.

 
The City of Sanibel has cancelled the Planning Commission meeting set for Tuesday, October 25, 2005 in McKenzie Hall.

As of Noon, October 21, 2005 all City of Sanibel Recreation Programs have been cancelled until further notice including After School Programs, Senior Programs, Youth Soccer and the recreation Center.

All contractors working on City projects and private contractors have been put on notice to remove any possible projectiles including porta-johns from their sites.

Owners of newspaper boxes are being advised to remove their boxes from the Island so that they do not become projectiles during heavy winds.

Residents are welcome to deposit perishables from their refrigerators and freezers in the dumpsters at the City boat ramp, located at the eastside of Causeway Boulevard, as they evacuate from the Island.

Citizens who are evacuation are reminded to take all proper precautions including: taking their prescription medications with them, their in deification for re-entry, copies of their appropriate personal insurance, property and financial records, properly secure their property, empty their freezer and refrigerators of perishables.    

Thursday Governor Bush signed Executive Order 05-219 declaring a State of Emergency for the State of Florida due to the predicted extreme weather conditions.