Hurricane Milton: Release #4 - Palm Beach County Media Briefing Summary

​County Mayor Maria Sachs, Emergency Manager Mary Blakeney and County Administrator Verdenia Baker gave an update on Hurricane Milton.

Hurricane Milton is located about 520 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of Florida through Wednesday. Currently Hurricane Milton is a category 4. A Tropical Storm Warning and Flood Watch has been issued for our county. Tropical Storm force winds are expected Wednesday evening through Thursday. Our area has a potential for sustained winds of 30-40 mph, with occasional gusts of 50-60 mph. The Emergency Operations Center is activated at a Level 2 and continues to coordinate with local and state partners.

County operations will cease at Noon on Wednesday through Thursday. This includes county parks and beaches, libraries, Palm Tran service, and senior activities. All services will be suspended beginning at Noon on Wednesday through Thursday resuming on Friday, unless conditions change. Palm Beach County schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.

• Palm Beach County is issuing evacuations for residents in ZONE A.
• You need to evacuate if you live in a manufactured home/mobile home; have substandard construction; or live in a flood-prone area.
• Palm Beach County will be opening five general population shelters, the pet-friendly shelter and the Special Needs Shelter on Wednesday.
• The Special Needs Shelter will open and begin receiving pre-registeredresidents on Wednesday at 10 AM. Those individuals that have preregistered for our special needs shelter, have been in contact with our Emergency Management staff and will have arrangements in place.
• Five general population shelters will be opened on Wednesday at Noon.
• • Palm Beach Gardens High School
  • Palm Beach Central High School
  • Forest Hill High School
  • Park Vista High School
  • Lake Shore Middle School
  • The one pet-friendly shelter at West Boynton Recreation Center will be open at Noon on Wednesday. Please ensure you have arrived before tropical storm force winds are expected.

• The Coast Guard has advised bridges will be in a locked down position by Noon today. Waterway traffic will be restricted.

• Winds will impact fire rescue services. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has positioned its High Water command vehicles, Flood and Swift Water teams.

• All SWA disposal facilities to close and no waste collection service in unincorporated PBC on Thursday, Oct. 10

• If you have any storm related questions, the Emergency Information Center is accepting calls at 561-712-6400.
• All Palm Beach County courthouses will be closed Wednesday and Thursday for Milton impacts and Friday for Yom Kippur.

New residents, as well as seasonal residents, who have never experienced a storm, should take proactive measures to be prepared. By now, general needs supplies on should be on hand. While the landfall of Hurricane Milton will be the West Coast of Florida, the storm effects - winds, high surf, rip currents, flooding, tornados and peak tides are possible.

ALERTPBC is Palm Beach County's Emergency Notification System allowing you to opt in to receive notifications via phone calls, text messaging, email, and more based on locations you care about. Sign up at www.alertpbc.com.

For continuing information on Major Hurricane Milton, and for more information on the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management and hurricane preparedness, please visit: www.pbcgov.com/hurricane, follow us on X @PBCDEM and watch PBC-TV Channel 20.

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