As Tropical Storm Eta takes aim at the Florida Keys, a state of emergency is declared

Monroe County on Saturday announced it was under a state of emergency due to Tropical Storm Eta, which was upgraded from a tropical depression to a tropical storm in the 10 a.m. National Hurricane Center advisory.

A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions - sustained winds of 39-73 mph - can be expected in 36 hours.

On Saturday morning, Tropical Storm warnings were issued for South Florida from Golden Beach to Chokoloskee, including Florida Bay, as well as for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas.

General visitor and resident evacuations are not planned at this time, according to a statement by the county released Saturday afternoon.

“Visitors staying or planning on staying in Florida Keys hotels should be aware of hazardous weather conditions and consider altering their plans until after the threat of Tropical Storm Eta is clear,” the county spokeswoman Kristen Livengood said.

Specific countywide protective actions were declared by County Mayor Heather Carruthers, who signed the orders at 1:27 p.m. Saturday.

They include:

▪All occupants of mobile homes, liveaboard vessels, and other similar units must evacuate and are encouraged to take shelter with family or friends. Occupants of these homes or vessels are encouraged to take shelter in sturdy buildings by no later than Sunday at 5 p.m.

▪ All recreational vehicles, trailers, campers and other similar mobile units must leave the county by 9 a.m. on Sunday.

▪ Shelters are planning to open on Sunday. Timing will be announced later on Saturday or early Sunday.

▪Sheltering information will follow later Saturday, shelter staff will be doing health screenings and COVID-19 protective measures will be in place.

▪At this time, airports will continue with normal operations through Sunday.

“Residents need to monitor this storm and be prepared for high tropical storm force sustained winds and hurricane strength gusts,” said Shannon Wiener, Monroe County Emergency Management Director. “Please secure all boats and outside items today for this event.”

Starting at 6 a.m. Sunday until the storm passes, the Snake Creek Bridge drawbridge in Tavernier will be locked down to marine traffic that need to use an opening. State parks will be closed to visitors on Sunday and Monday.

This story was originally published November 7, 2020 at 2:31 PM.

Gwen Filosa

Miami Herald

Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from Indiana University.