By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Tropical Storm Idalia should strengthen to a major hurricane by Wednesday morning before making landfall somewhere between Cedar Key and Steinhatchee, the National Weather Service said Monday.
Coastal storm tides are forecast to reach 9-13 feet mean sea level causing heavy flooding along Levy County’s coastline as well as inland flooding from the anticipated 12 inches of rainfall expected to fall.
Hurricane Idalia is expected to generate 115-mile-per-hour sustained winds along the coast if it reaches Category 3 strength.
“It does look like Levy County is going to receive some pretty significant impacts,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist Ali Davis in Ruskin, Fl. outside Tampa.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for all Levy County residents and visitors in the coastal communities of Cedar Key, Yankeetown, Fowlers Bluff, Fanning Springs, and any other area prone to storm surge.
The mandatory evacuation is for all RV parks, mobile homes, and manufactured homes in coastal communities and low-lying areas of the county.
Both Bronson schools will serve as storm shelters beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Levy County Schools will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Superintendent Chris Cowart said the district will evaluate damage to its buildings after the storm and determine how many people may be sheltering long-term in the schools as a result of storm damage to their homes.
Bronson Elementary School at 400 Ishie Ave. will serve as the special needs shelter. The general population and pet-friendly shelter will be open at Bronson Middle High School at 352 Ishie Ave. Williston Middle High School shelter will open once Bronson Middle High is near capacity.
Cowart said FEMA has ruled out using the new Chiefland Middle High School or Chiefland Elementary School as storm shelters because both schools are shown as potential flood-prone areas on the agency’s inundation maps.
Citizens with animals that need to be sheltered are asked to bring a crate, food, bottled water (1 gallon jug per animal), and any medications the animal needs. Owners must provide rabies vaccine certificate and proof of distemper/parvo/feline distemper vaccine. Levy County Animal Services will provide vaccines for an additional $10 per vaccine. All animals will be sheltered at the Levy County Animal Control Shelter if you cannot provide proof of vaccinations. Citizens who have pet questions should call 352-486-5138. The Levy County Animal Control Shelter is located at the Levy County Landfill, 12051 NE 69th Lane, Williston.
All county boat ramps will be closed at the end of business today, Monday, 8-28-23.
The Cedar Key Airport will be closed.
Sandbag locations are now in operation at the following locations: Gulf Hammock Fire Station, Cedar Key Community Center, Rosewood Baptist Church, Yankeetown Water Plant, Inglis Municipal Building, Bronson Town Hall, Chiefland Maintenance yard and Fowler’s Bluff Fire Station, empty lot across from Williston Police Department.
Information lines for Levy County citizens are now operational and a representative can answer your questions at 352-486-5155 or 352-486-5576.
————–
Enterprise Reporting August 28, 2023
