Palm Beach County Emergency Management officials continue to actively monitor Hurricane Irma and its progress toward our area. All residents and visitors should be aware of the potential impacts from this powerful storm. The Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center will be a full activation (Level 1) at 7 a.m. Friday.
Evacuations
Mandatory evacuations are being ordered for residential structures in Palm Beach County in Zone A, Zone B and expanded Zone E in the Glades, effective at 10 a.m. Friday, September 8. A voluntary evacuation is being issued for residents in Zone C.
Zone A includes mobile homes and low-lying areas prone to water intrusion.
Zone B generally includes the barrier islands, land areas north and south of the Jupiter Inlet, and other surge-vulnerable areas along the Intracoastal Waterway.
A voluntary evacuation order is being issued for Zone C which is only for residents who are unsure of the safety of their structure or if their structure is prone to excessive flooding (i.e., have experienced water inside their homes in previous storms).
Zone C generally includes properties from the Intracoastal waterway west to US Highway 1 in South County and Central County, and areas in close proximity to the Loxahatchee River and the northern tip of the Lake Worth Lagoon.
The expanded Zone E (Glades area only) evacuation zone includes the entire Lake Region including the communities of Lake Harbor, South Bay, Belle Glade, Pahokee and Canal Point. Bus service is being provided for these evacuees to shelters in other areas of the county. Pick-ups will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Lake Shore Middle and Pahokee Middles schools. The last bus leaves at 5 p.m.
The entire Palm Beach County area around Lake Okeechobee, not just the area known as Zone E, is under an evacuation order. If using the DART application or our online tool and you enter your Glades area address it may indicate that you are not in the evacuation zone. All of the Glades area communities are now in the evacuation zone.
Zone A has approximately 49,000 residents.
Zone B has approximately 74,000 residents.
Zone C has approximately 138,000 residents.
Expanded Zone E in the Glades has approximately 32,000 residents.
To determine if your home is in a storm surge evacuation zone, go to readyPBC.com or download our free app “PBC DART.” If you are not in an evacuation zone, please shelter in place. We do not want people stranded on the roadways without fuel.
Hurricane Irma Curfew
Starting Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 3 P.M. a countywide curfew will be in effect.
The curfew lasts from 3 P.M. Saturday until modified or canceled.
A person must have a legitimate purpose for being out past curfew hours. In addition to the curfew, the State of Emergency also Prohibits the Sale and/or Distribution of Alcohol as well as the Sale and/or Display of Firearms.
This curfew is to ensure the safety of all citizens of Palm Beach County as well as the personal property and businesses in our county from looters and individuals taking advantage of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement in Municipal areas will have zero tolerance for looting.
