Caribbean Islands, Haiti Brace For Matthew’s Impact, Sandbags Available For Brevard Residents
By Space Coast Daily // October 3, 2016
Category 4 Hurricane Matthew
ABOVE VIDEO: This is a video of the Desruisseaux-Belle Vue intersection during the passage of TS Matthew in St. Lucia.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Category 4 Hurricane Matthew continues to move North at 6 mph and is headed for a direct hit on Haiti late Monday evening.
Max Sustained Winds have been recorded at 140 mph.
According to TWC, Hurricane Matthew is less than 24 hours from delivering a potentially catastrophic strike on Haiti, and will also strike parts of Jamaica, eastern Cuba and the Bahamas before flirting with parts of the U.S. East Coast into this weekend.
Hurricane conditions are expected to first reach Haiti tonight, eastern Cuba Tuesday, and the southeastern Bahamas late Tuesday.
Matthew is still considered to be a massive hurricane, in terms of size, covering over 600 miles.
Brevard Residents are encouraged to be prepared, sandbags are available today through 3 p.m. today for area residents at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Work Farm, 2955 Pluckebaum Road, in Cocoa. (See Map Below) Then, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, jail trusties will fill and load sandbags for the public until 3 p.m. There is a limit of 10 bags per visit.
For more information on sand bags, call 321- 747-0205.
In addition, with Hurricane Matthew’s impact on the Florida’s east coast still uncertain, Brevard County Emergency Management encourages residents to follow these important steps to stay prepared: Know Your Risks; Make a Plan, Build a Kit; and Stay Informed.
“Families, individuals, and businesses who know their vulnerability and what actions to take can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster by taking action to prepare,” said Emergency Management Director Kimberly Prosser. “You want to make sure to prepare yourselves, your family and pets, and your home or business.”
Emergency Management recommends:
Know Your Risks: Understand how hurricanes can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family. Find out whether you live in an evacuation zone (Map available at http://www.brevardcounty.us/EmergencyManagement/Preparedness). Consider whether you live in a mobile or manufactured home, a low-lying flood-prone area, or on a barrier island.
Make a Plan: If you plan to evacuate, decide on a place to go, and include your pet in your plan. Decide whether you’ll stay with relatives, at a hotel, whether you’ll utilize one of the county’s 12 general population shelters or four pet-friendly shelters. If you have certain medical needs, including power-operated medical equipment or have a caregiver, and you plan to use a shelter, you’ll need to register for a special-needs shelter at http://web.brevardcounty.us/SpecialNeeds/Registration.aspx.
Build a Kit: You may need to survive on your own for some time after an emergency. This means having non-perishable food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Assemble this kit well in advance, and plan ahead for needed medications, and supplies for pets and infants. Include a cell phone charger for your car, and you’ll want to have some cash and a full tank of gas.
Stay Informed: Check weather forecasts regularly, obtain a NOAA Weather Radio, and sign up for email or text alerts from the National Weather Service or local TV stations.
ABOVE MAP: Sandbags are available today through 3 p.m. today for area residents at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Work Farm, 2955 Pluckebaum Road, in Cocoa. Then, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, jail trustys will fill and load sandbags for the public until 3 p.m. There is a limit of 10 bags per visit.
