Mayor Curry declares State of Emergency for Duval County; Advises Zones A & B to evacuate

Tiffany Salameh

The projected path of Irma.Florida Storms

Mayor Lenny Curry declared a State of Emergency will be in effect in Duval County at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Curry urges Jacksonville residents that are in Zone A or B that are able to leave today should leave today to avoid expected evacuation traffic later in the week.

UNF is not in an evacuation zone and no decision has been made on university closures. For information about where your zone is and to find your zone by address, visit COJ.net.

UNF is not in an evacuation zone. COJ.net

“We are likely to see mandatory evacuations begin on Friday,” Curry said.

The 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center puts Jacksonville in the projected path of Hurricane Irma. The First Coast should feel the effects of the storm midday Sunday and Monday.

The storm surge is predicted to be anywhere from 2-5 feet and 6-12 inches of rain is expected, according to the NHC.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said Irma is “bigger, faster and stronger” than Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm that made landfall in Homestead, FL in 1992.

“Do not ignore evacuation orders,” Scott said in a news conference. “Remember: We can rebuild your home, but we cannot rebuild your life.”

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