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Live blog: Dangerous Hurricane Irma threatens Tampa Bay
Live coverage of Hurricane Irma, a major storm that devastated many Caribbean islands is now threatening Florida and Tampa Bay. This is coverage from the team at the Tampa Bay Times with latest updates on the storm.
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Pinellas Cty adminstartor Mark Woodard's message this morning to BOCC: #TBTIrma https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDTPTHWsAAgQ7B.jpg
by Mark Puente via twitter 9/6/2017 3:41:30 PM -
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Due to high traffic on the NHC website this morning, we will post some of our forecast graphics on Twitter for Advisory 30. 5 day track: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDVVkbXcAAYqBY.jpg
by National Hurricane Center via twitter 9/6/2017 3:51:05 PM -
Due to high traffic on the NHC website, we will post some #Irma forecast graphics on Twitter for Advisory 30. Forecast Track: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDVtDaXYAAGUni.jpg
by National Hurricane Center via twitter 9/6/2017 3:52:25 PM -
Due to high traffic on the NHC website, we will post some #Irma forecast graphics on Twitter for Advisory 30. TS Windspeed probability: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDWEssW4AEP5cW.jpg
by National Hurricane Center via twitter 9/6/2017 3:53:45 PM -
Due to high traffic on the NHC website, we will post some #Irma forecast graphics on Twitter for Advisory 30. Forecast Track: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDWVpeXYAAkZax.jpg
by National Hurricane Center via twitter 9/6/2017 3:54:53 PM -
Due to high traffic on the NHC website, we will post some #Irma forecast graphics on Twitter for Advisory 30. Wind field and warnings: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDWpF5XUAADAsF.jpg
by National Hurricane Center via twitter 9/6/2017 3:56:12 PM -
Pinellas County schools & district offices will be CLOSED Thursday (9/7) and Friday (9/8) due to #HurricaneIrma . #tbtIrma @TB_Timesby Colleen Wright via twitter 9/6/2017 3:56:21 PM -
Due to high traffic on the NHC website, we will post some #Irma forecast graphics for Advisory 30. Earliest Arrival Time of TS winds: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDWzr1WAAAXgzV.jpg
by National Hurricane Center via twitter 9/6/2017 3:58:36 PM -
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Heading north from Pasco because of #HurricaneIrma ? Give yourself time. Congestion ahead. #tbtirma https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDaU4fUwAUKvgY.jpg
by Jeffrey S. Solochek via twitter 9/6/2017 4:12:07 PM -
Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas schools close Thursday and Friday; Pasco on Friday
As Hurricane Irma roars toward Florida with Category 5 strength, school districts around the state are scrambling to put a plan in place to prepare. -
Eckerd College urges evacuations
Eckerd College sent the following email to students:We are enacting our plan for campus closure. Students met with resident advisors last night to discuss travel plans, and those without plans have been offered assistance by Student Affairs staff. Classes will end at 12:50 p.m. today, and all students must be out of their residence halls by 9 a.m. Thursday. Campus will officially close at 5 p.m. Thursday. Students and family members with remaining questions and concerns about student travel plans may speak with representatives from Student Affairs at 727.864.8421 and 727.865.7163.Compared to earlier models, the National Hurricane Center predicts an eastward shift in the track of Hurricane Irma, which could take it up the east coast of Florida. The College remains in the 5-day cone, however, and meteorologists caution that the storm remains unpredictable. At this point, we expect to feel the most severe impacts, including heavy rain and storm surge, Sunday and Monday.Students, faculty and staff planning to drive out-of-state may see heavy traffic and delays on Interstates 75 and 95. Please refer to Florida 511 and the Waze app for detailed and up-to-date traffic information.Faculty and staff members should continue to prepare their homes, offices and other work areas for the closure accordingly. All employees must consult with their supervisor about whether you will be required to work remotely on Friday into next week.Any changes will be communicated via email, posted on eckerd.edu/tropical and facebook.com/eckerdcs and tweeted from the @eckerdcs account on Twitter. Please bookmark these sites in your browsers.Campus Safety Team -
Found this grocery list at the downtown Publix and it is resonating with me deeply #tbtIrma https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DJDcde2UEAAkIvF.jpg
by Lisa Gartner via twitter 9/6/2017 4:25:50 PM -
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Hurricane Irma: Polk sheriff warns IDs will be checked at evacuation shelters
Tampa Bay Times Hurricane Irma's potential landfall is still days away, but the Polk County Sheriff's Office made minor online waves Wednesday morning with a pair of tweets warning sex offenders and citizens with arrest warrants against seeking refuge in local storm shelters. -
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Business as usual, so far, at Tampa International Airport
Operations are mostly normal at Tampa International Airport as of Wednesday morning, according to spokeswoman Emily Nipps. There were few routine cancellations and delays at the airport, mostly due to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, she said. Otherwise there wasn’t much increased activity at the airport.
“We would like to remind people that the airport is not a designated shelter. Our roads will be flooded as well in a direct or even a partial hit,” Nipps said. “We don’t have the capability of treating people with medical needs or providing food and water. This isn’t the greatest place to look for shelter.”Nipps also warned that booking a flight out of TIA likely isn’t the best evacuation plan, either.Locals in the Tampa Bay area are reporting issues booking flights out of the Tampa airport to most destinations this week. Flights are either completely booked, unavailable or very expensive. A couple of flights on Delta to the Chicago area taking off on Thursday would cost more than $1,500 round trip, according to current booking searches on travel websites like Expedia.com, Kayak.com and even on Delta’s website. No flights appear to be available on Allegiant Air this week out of St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, according to the airliner’s website.- Justine Griffin -
Cruise change announced
The Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas ship, which is based at Port Tampa Bay, has changed its itinerary for a voyage this week due to Hurricane Irma, a press release says. The ship was originally scheduled to arrive on Sept. 9 at Port Tampa Bay but will now arrive mid-morning on Sept. 8. Passengers will have the option to leave the ship a day early or stay on the ship while it’s in port in Tampa. No new passengers will be able to board as the Saturday sailing has been cancelled.- Justine Griffin -
Hurricane Irma news release from Hillsborough school district
Tampa, Fla. – (September 6, 2017) – Hillsborough County Public Schools will close Thursday and Friday, September 7 and 8, in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. In addition, all after-school programs and extracurricular activities are canceled for Thursday and Friday.
Our area may not feel the effects of the storm until Saturday or Sunday, and the weather still may be normal across the county on Thursday or Friday, but there are several reasons for the decision to close schools:- Our principals and staff need time to prepare their buildings for possible flooding and intense wind damage.
- As the largest employer in Hillsborough County, our 25,000 employees need time to prepare their families for this major emergency.
- Many schools may be opened as shelters by county emergency managers. Our staff and security teams need time to prepare those buildings in the event they are used to host evacuees from our area and across Florida.
We encourage our families and staff to use Thursday and Friday to take necessary precautions and plan for Hurricane Irma.We will plan to send another update over the weekend, if any school closures are needed next week.### -
Some Publix stores limiting water purchases, while other businesses replenish supplies
Retailers across Tampa Bay are trying to replenish supplies like bottled water, plywood and other merchandise that is flying off the shelves at stores across the region. Some Publix Supermarkets are limiting bottled water to two packages per person or four per family in an effort to share supplies evenly. Some local gas stations are reportedly selling bottled water packages for $8 a pop.
Walmart and Amazon are reporting shipping delays for online orders due to overwhelming demands. Walmart stores have suspended all grocery pick up services at stores in Florida for the duration the storm, said Regan Dickens, a spokesman for Walmart. He added that Walmart has sent 800 truckloads of bottle water to Florida, which began arriving at local stores last night. Walmart stores are restocking shelves by the hour, with the greatest need coming from the southern areas of the state and extending north.
“While some stores may sell through product quickly, our supply chain and merchandising teams are working to ensure stores are replenished as quickly as possible,” said Matt Harrigan, a spokesman for the Home Depot. “We began shipping pre-staged loads of hurricane supplies from distribution centers to stores in the potential strike zone late last week and we’ll continue to do so through the end of the week.”- Justine Griffin -
Evacuations causing hotel rooms in Hillsborough to fill up
Hotel rooms in Hillsborough County are starting to book up as locals and residents from South Florida cities are looking for shelter away from the coastal areas, said Bob Morrison, executive director of the Hillsborough County Hotel Motel Association. If Irma’s path continues to move east and away from the Tampa Bay area, hoteliers expect reservations to start filling up more quickly.
“As we’re getting additional clarity on the movement of Irma, reservations are picking up,” Morrison told the Tampa Bay Times Wednesday.“Our challenge is making sure that we’re positioned to safely protect our guests and employees.”- Justine Griffin -
As Irma nears, do those big construction cranes across Tampa Bay make you nervous?
Those giant construction cranes looming overhead are a sign of progress in the Tampa Bay area although they pose an unnerving sight as Hurricane Irma approaches. -
Bob Buckhorn declares local state of emergency in Tampa as Irma charts an uncertain course
Tampa Bay TimesTAMPA — For the first time in more than a decade, Mayor Bob Buckhorn declared a local state of emergency in Tampa and urged residents to prepare early, to err on the side of caution in assessing the risks and to get out soon if they decide to leave. -
Tampa Bay could experience tropical force winds Saturday
National Hurricane Center Experimental Arrival Time of Tropical-Storm-Force Winds An experimental graphic produced by the National Hurricane Center shows the earliest time that tropical force winds from Hurricane Irma could reach various areas.
The latest graphic shows that most of the Tampa Bay area could begin experiencing the winds, which are 39 to 74 mph, by 8 p.m. Saturday.
You can learn more here. -
Customers upset as Walmart cancels online orders
Some customers who had hoped to use online ordering to help in their storm preparations were distressed at the news that Walmart has suspended grocery pickup services at stores in Florida for the duration of Hurricane Irma.
Walmart stores are restocking shelves by the hour its brick and mortar stores, but that didn't help Kim Roberts, 52, who had hoped to get bottled water, batteries and other supplies in by ordering them online Tuesday morning.
On Wednesday, her order was canceled. The Riverview mother of two got a call from a Walmart distribution center manager, she said.
“They said they wouldn’t be taking orders until after September 12,” Roberts said.
The company did credit back Roberts’ card, she said, but now she will need to brave long lines and search potentially empty shelves.Florida residents across the state were making the same complaint.
Tasha Harrill, 41, who lives just north of Pensacola in Milton, also ordered online Tuesday morning and expected to be able to pick up at her nearby Walmart. Her order of bottled water, juice and canned food was just over $50. But at 11 p.m., the company emailed her that her order was canceled.
“I didn’t want to be the idiot who was sitting around with nothing,” Harrill said. “And now I am.”
Harrill, a mother of a 2- and 9-year-old, said she even called the store Tuesday morning to make sure the order would get filled Wednesday.
“They told me it wouldn’t be a problem,” she said. “But now I’m going to have to see what I can find during my lunch break.”
Suzanne Sherer, 53, a Cape Coral resident, said her more-than $100 order was accepted on Monday night but the company emailed her a cancellation notice Wednesday morning.
Sherer said she was annoyed that the website continued to let her change her order and add more items even after it became apparent Walmart could not fill it.
“Of course I’m stressed now,” Sherer said. “The availability of items is much lower now. They should have stopped taking new orders or let people know sooner. It’s not like this hurricane is a surprise.”- Jonathan Capriel -
2 p.m. update: Category 5 Hurricane Irma approaching Puerto Rico
As of 2 p.m., the storm still had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and was located about 90 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moving west-northwest at 16 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.It is forecast to continue its westerly track over the next couple of days, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.Forecasters say the track continues to shift east.Its forecast is for the winds to fluctuate slightly but for the storm to remain at Category 4 or 5 strength for the next day or two. The most dangerous winds, usually nearest to the eye, were forecast to pass near the northern Virgin Islands and near or just north of Puerto Rico through the day Wednesday.The storm is forecast to pass near or just north of Puerto Rico this afternoon or tonight, near or just north of the coast of the Dominican Republic Thursday, and be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas late Thursday. -
'The stuff of life': Word of a water delivery brings a long line
Customers line up around the Walmart on 34th Street N in St. Petersburg after being told 10 pallets of water had been delivered. [LANE DEGREGORY | Times] The announcement came over the intercom just after noon: A new shipment of water had arrived.Throngs of people in the Walmart on 34th Street at First Avenue N. in St. Petersburg, turned their carts around and sped to the back of the store. Within minutes, the line wrapped from the beer cooler, past the dairy section, all the way to the deli — 39 customers who had almost given up hope.
"We weren't sure what to do," said Davon'ta Eastwood, 15, who was pushing the cart for his mom. "We'd been to five places already today and everyone's out."
"We don't want to stay," said his mom, Sierra, 35. "But we can't leave the animals. We have two dogs and two cats, one just had seven kittens." She said she was scared of the storm.
They'd never been in a hurricane. "But at least now, if it hits here, we'll have water."
A truck had delivered 10 more pallets of Aquafina — 600 cases — 19,200 bottles, 16.9-oz each. A St. Petersburg police officer made sure each customer took only two cases. People stacked them on strollers, balanced them on their heads; scooter users laid them across their laps.
At 1:25 p.m., Austin Francis, 22, and his friend Jacob Waite, 24, got the last two cases and pushed past a dozen disappointed people.
"We're just trying to hang on here," said Francis. "This is the stuff of life."
Wal-Mart Manager Benson McClure promised more water was on its way. But he had no idea when.
— Lane DeGregory, Times staff writer
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