NEWS

10:55 Update: Franklin, Wakulla issue evacuation notice

Karl Etters, Jeffrey Schweers, and Sean Rossman
Tallahassee Democrat
Hermine

Update 10:55 p.m.

Florida A&M University will not hold class Thursday or Friday.

Update 8 p.m.

In response to potential impacts from Tropical Storm Hermine, the Wakulla County Emergency Management Team in coordination with the Wakulla County Administration is issuing an evacuation of low lying coastal homes south of US 98 and 319.  The National Weather Service in Tallahassee is forecasting a storm tide of 5-7 feet for our area which may result in an inundation of 3-5 feet above ground level.

Residents and interests along the immediate coastline and in low lying areas should take steps to protect property and are asked to evacuate. A shelter is available at Crawfordville Elementary School located at 379 Arran Road.  The shelter will be available for all residents with homes that are vulnerable to high winds or downed trees.

Wakulla County Schools and County Offices will be closed on Thursday, September 1st and Friday September 2nd.

If you have any questions or need assistance with evacuations, please contact the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office at 850.745.7100.

Update 5:20 p.m.

Florida A&M University will stop classes Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. Classes will resume Tuesday. Students living in residence halls will receive a boxed lunch beginning Thursday at dinner through Friday.

The university will conduct normal business hours Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Business operations will be suspended Friday and resume Tuesday.

8:45 a.m. update: FSU to close at noon Thursday

Update 4:45 p.m. 

The Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Park Service is closing and evacuating some of its Central and North Florida campgrounds.

The following campgrounds have been closed:

  • Fanning Springs State Park
  • Lafayette Blue Spring Stae Park
  • Manatee Springs State Park
  • Torreya State Park
  • St. Andrews State Park
  • St. George Island State Park
  • T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph State Park

The following are closed until further notice:

  • Crystal River Archaeological State Park
  • St. George Island State Park

For closure updates, visit www.floridastateparks.org.

Update 4:30 p.m.

Franklin County has issued a mandatory evacuation notice for residents who live on St. George Island, on Dog Island, in Alligator Point, in Bald Point, in all low-lying areas, along the coastline or areas prone to surge flooding, and in mobile homes or RVs.

Storm surge is expected to be 3 to 6 feet above normal. Residents who live in areas prone to surge flood are asked to secure loose yard items, secure boats and vehicles and make sure their disaster kits are readily accessible.

Update 3:50 p.m.

Florida State University will remain open Thursday morning and classes will meet as scheduled. The univeristy said in an FSU alert it will continue to monitor weather conditions to determine if operations will cease after Thursday morning.

Florida High and the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab will be closed Thursday and Friday.  The Five Browns concert at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall will be held Thursday night at 6 p.m. instead of 7:30. There will be no reception.

Update: 3:24 p.m.

Franklin County Emergency Management asked all non-residents visiting St. George Island, Dog Island, Alligator Point and Bald Point to evacuate those areas by 1 p.m. today.

Crawfordville Elementary School will serve as a shelter until 5 p.m. today. However, FCEM encourages residents to find a hotel.

There is an elevated risk of rip currents in Franklin County over the next several days. Residents are asked to closely monitor weather reports for the next several days.

Residents with questions can visit www.FranklinEmergencyManagement.com or like the agency's Facebook page.

Update 3:20 p.m. 

Tallahassee Community College will be closed Thursday and Friday. HCP clinicals also will be closed. Classes will resume Tuesday.

Update: 1:58 p.m.

All Big Bend schools, including Leon County, will be closed Thursday and Friday. Check back for more information.

Big Bend schools closed Thursday, Friday

Update: 1:53 p.m.

The storm taking aim at the Big Bend has strengthened into Tropical Storm Hermine.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

Update 1:30 p.m.

Wakulla County schools and the Wakulla County Board of County Commission offices will be closed Thursday and Friday. Check back for details about Leon and other counties.

Update 12:30 p.m.

Tropical Depression 9 continues to approach Tallahassee.

The National Weather Service said the storm is expected to make landfall after midnight on Thursday.

Tropical storm winds could reach Florida's offshore marine areas Thursday morning and have a 50-50 chance of spreading along the Big Bend coastline Thursday evening.

The storm likely will become a tropical storm at some point today. There is a chance it will strengthen to a hurricane before making landfall. A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the Big Bend, which also is under a Tropical Storm Warning. Leon County also is under a Flash Flood Warning until Friday.

11:43 a.m.

Tropical Depression 9 has stalled in the Gulf of Mexico but should head toward the Florida Gulf Coast today, National Weather Service officials said in an updated advisory. NWS forecasters expect the depression to strengthen.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the United States Atlantic coast from Marineland, Florida, to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.

9:06 a.m.

State officials expect Tropical Depression 9 to strengthen into a tropical storm and make landfall in the Big Bend Thursday.

Bryan Koon, the director of the Division of Emergency Management, said the slow-moving system could make landfall in North-Central Florida as early as Thursday afternoon.

“This storm still a tropical depression but it will become a tropical storm today,” Koon said during a briefing at the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. “It may become a Cat. 1 hurricane.”

The storm would be named Hermine if it becomes a hurricane. Between 5 and 10 inches of rain are expected to be dumped from the storm. Coastal surge as high as 6 feet could hit from Gulf to Pasco counties .

Tornado warnings and flash floods are possible throughout the region Koon added. Leon County is under a flash flood watch until Friday.

Gov. Rick Scott is traveling the state giving briefings on the storm throughout the day.

Scott has declared a state of emergency in 42 counties and 8,000 Florida National Guard troops are ready to be deployed.

"We’re going to see some water. Don’t drive into it," Scott said. "We’re going to see downed power lines. Be careful. Don’t drive around them...This state knows what to do but you as an individual have to do your part."

Leon County Schools officials are holding two conference calls this morning to determine any closures for the next few days.

The last time a tropical system hit Florida was Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

The county and city have opened the following sandbag locations:

  • J. Lee Vause Park, 6024 Old Bainbridge Road
  • Jack McLean Park, 700 Paul Russell Road
  • Ranchero Road, at the intersection of Ranchero Road and Oak Ridge Road
  • Tekesta Park, Tekesta Drive and Deer Lake Road in Killearn Lakes
  • Apalachee Regional Park (Landfill), 7550 Apalachee Parkway
  • James Messer Park South, 2830 Jackson Bluff Road between Mabry Street and Appleyard Drive
  • Winthrop Park, 1601 Mitchell Avenue (near the tennis courts)
  • Lawrence-Gregory Community Center, 1115 Dade Street

Sandbags are limited to 25 bags per household, and citizens need to bring shovels to fill bags themselves. Locations will not be staffed, but crews will monitor and provide additional sand and bags as needed. Sites will remain open until the storm has passed and officials determine sandbags are no longer needed.

Original story:

A tropical storm warning went up Wednesday morning for Leon County. Here's what you need to know:

The 7 a.m. forecast track

  • The storm is still classified as a depression. "The depression has been meandering overnight, but is expected to begin a northward or northeastward motion later today," according to a hurricane center forecast.

Rucker: Hurricane watch for coastal areas

  • The peak wind forecast for Leon County is 35-45 mph with gusts to 60.

  • Rain of 4 to 8 inches expected.

  • Storm surge of 3 to 5 feet possible along coastal areas of Big Bend.

  • Window of impacts: Thursday afternoon to Friday morning.

  • Gov. Rick Scott will receive an EOC briefing in Tallahassee at 8:30 this morning.

  • Leon County School District officials are monitoring developments.

  • Stay tuned to tallahassee.com for more details.