TAMPA – Hurricane Ian is projected to hit Florida as a strong storm sometime this week, and the state has already declared an emergency over the looming landfall.
Ian was forecast to intensify rapidly and hit Cuba as a major hurricane late Monday, and then become an even stronger Category 4 hurricane over warm Gulf of Mexico waters before striking the west central coast of Florida on Wednesday.
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A surge of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) of ocean water and 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, with as much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) inches in isolated areas, was predicted for the Tampa Bay area. That’s enough water to inundate low-lying coastal communities.
Related: Live stream: Tracking Hurricane Ian as it nears Cuba
A hurricane watch was issued for Florida’s central western coast including the Tampa Bay area, where Hillsborough County suspended classes through Thursday to prepare schools to serve as shelters for evacuees. Additional watches for more northern areas along the peninsula’s west coast may be issued, Brown said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency throughout Florida and urged residents to prepare for the storm to lash large swaths of the state with heavy rains, high winds and rising seas. The Florida National Guard is activating 2,500 Guardsmen across the state.
Here’s what Florida residents should know to prepare for Hurricane Ian:
Get A Plan
Get a Family or Business Plan by visiting Get A Plan!. This tool allows you to build a downloaded plan for your family and/or business with a preparedness checklist, emergency management contacts.
Know Your Zone
All Florida coastal counties and counties are susceptible to storm surge and most have designated evacuation zones. Use the mapping tool above to search by address and determine if you are in a designated evacuation zone.
Evacuation Zones - to determine if you are in a designated evacuation zone
Evacuation Orders - View Florida county evacuation orders
Read More About Evacuation Zones - learn more about designated evacuation zones, which counties have them and which don’t, how flood zones are factored into evacuations, and evacuation orders
More: Florida evacuation zones for Hurricane Ian: How to find your zone by county
Mobile Apps
Florida Storms - Florida Public Radio Emergency Network Google Play iTunes
Florida 511 - Get up-to-the-minute, real-time traffic conditions and incident information for the State of Florida with Florida 511.
FEMA - mobile app
Red Cross - mobile apps
Byte to Bites - Byte to Bites is a free mobile application designed to help people find local food pantries, soup kitchens, farmers markets and locations where they can use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. After a disaster, people may have limited transportation options and the app can be helpful in finding the nearest food distribution location. Apple App Store Google Play
Everbridge - mobile apps
Gas Buddy - Gas stations availability
Traffic
Florida 511 - Get up-to-the-minute, real-time traffic conditions and incident information for the State of Florida with Florida 511.
Florida Highway Patrol - Florida Highway Patrol Live Traffic Crash and Road Condition Report. Reports are updated every five minutes. Incidents located within city limits also may not show on the map since it is not common practice for FHP to work incidents inside city limits.
Florida Traffic - Traffic incidents and conditions from Florida 511 and Florida Highway Patrol brought to you by Florida State Emergency Response Team Geographic Information Systems.
View the latest tropical information from the National Hurricane Center.