Hurricane Season 2007, which began today, June 1, is starting off quickly. Late this afternoon, the National Hurricane Center upgraded a Gulf of Mexico storm, naming it Tropical Storm Barry.
The storm is expected to make landfall somewhere in the Big Bend area Saturday, bringing much-needed rain to the area.
The storm is forecast to be a "rainmaker," rather than a wind event. Winds are expected to remain in the lower range for tropical storms: 45 MPH, with higher gusts.
However, there is a possibility of storm surge along the coast, with surge of 3-5 feet above normal tide levels. Also, inland flooding is a possibility, as the storm may bring 3 to 5 inches of rain during its quick trip across the Florida peninsula. Cedar Key News will continue to update the storm information, as needed. Levy County Emergency Management, located in the Emergency Operations Center in Bronson, Fl, is the "Direction and Control Center" for Levy County in times of disaster.
Check the Levy County Emergency Management`s website at http://levydisaster.com
Friday, June 01, 2007 7:33:09 PM TROPICAL STORM WARNING T.S. BARRY
000
WTNT32 KNHC 012035
TCPAT2
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM BARRY ADVISORY NUMBER 1
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL022007
500 PM EDT FRI JUN 01 2007 ... TROPICAL STORM BARRY FORMS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO... AT 5 PM EDT... 2100 UTC... A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA FROM BONITA BEACH NORTHWARD TO KEATON BEACH... AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM NORTH OF KEATON BEACH TO ST. MARKS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA... GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA... INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS... PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 500 PM EDT... 2100Z... THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BARRY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.2 NORTH... LONGITUDE 85.5 WEST OR ABOUT 320 MILES... 520 KM... SOUTHWEST OF TAMPA FLORIDA AND ABOUT 235 MILES... 375 KM... WEST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA. BARRY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 12 MPH... 19 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH... 75 KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS ANTICIPATED BEFORE BARRY REACHES THE COAST. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 90 MILES... 150 KM MAINLY TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY A RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 1000 MB... 29.53 INCHES. COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF UP TO 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES... ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNING AREA NEAR AND TO THE RIGHT OF WHERE THE CENTER OF BARRY MAKES LANDFALL. BARRY IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS AND PENINSULA INTO SOUTHEASTERN GEORGIA WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES. REPEATING THE 500 PM EDT POSITION... 24.2 N... 85.5 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD... NORTH NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 45 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 1000 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 800 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100 PM EDT.
GOVERNOR CRIST ANNOUNCES HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SALES TAX HOLIDAY
April 30, 2007
TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today signed into law House Bill 211 establishing a sales tax holiday from June 1 through June 12, 2007, for hurricane preparedness items. "I urge all Floridians to take advantage of the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday so that every person is prepared for the possibility of a storm," said Governor Crist. "We have learned from experience that prepared residents and communities are key to surviving and recovering from hurricanes or other natural disasters." Legislative sponsors Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustis) and Representative Peter Nehr (R-Tarpon Springs) and Department of Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate joined the Governor for the bill signing. Governor Crist thanked the Legislature and urged all Floridians to prepare for the 2007 Hurricane Season by taking advantage of the third annual sales tax holiday. The holiday is expected to save Floridians almost $25 million in sales taxes. "As public awareness of this tax holiday continues to grow, we are encouraging Florida retailers to prepare for even greater demand than last year," said Governor Crist. "While we hope for a quiet hurricane season, the tax holiday will help give Floridians the opportunity to be prepared for any possibility." Florida Retail Federation officials and major retailers are helping inform Floridians about the tax holiday in order to promote a culture of preparedness. Representatives from Lowe's, Home Depot, Publix and Winn Dixie attended the bill signing. "Recent history shows us that hurricanes can impact every Floridian," said Director Craig Fugate of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. "I challenge all residents to get a plan and prepare now." Governor Crist encouraged all Floridians to update their disaster plans and to use the tax holiday during the first 12 days of June as an opportunity to restock their disaster supply kits. Chris Floyd of the American Red Cross attended the bill signing and displayed examples of tax exempt items. Below are a few examples of items that will be exempt during the sales tax holiday. • Flashlights and other portable, self-powered light sources – $20 or less
• Portable radios, two-way radios and weather-band radios – $75 or less
• Tarps – $50 or less
• Gas or diesel fuel containers – $25 or less
• Batteries – $30 or less (AAA, AA, C and D cell, and 6 and 9 volt batteries)
• Non-electrical food storage coolers – $30 or less
• Portable generators – $1,000 or less
• Carbon monoxide detectors – $75 or less
• Storm shutter devices – $200 or less For more information on the 2007 Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday or to find information on building a customized family or business disaster plan, please visit www.FloridaDisaster.org or www.myflorida.com During a storm event, it is our goal to provide the latest emergency information available regarding protective action decisions and safety information. Our normal office hours are Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm. If you have any questions or comments regarding disaster planning for yourself, your family, your home or business, please contact Levy County Emergency Management at 352-486-5213.
For non-emergency inquiries after normal business hours or on weekends, please call the Levy County Sheriff`s Office at 352-486-5111. During an emergency, you may hear rumors. Please don`t accept rumor as fact. Special telephone hotlines will provide the latest official information. However, use telephones only when absolutely necessary so telephone circuits will remain clear for emergency workers.
Levy County
(352)486-5155
after hours -
(352)486-5111
or(352)486-5576 State of Florida
1-800-342-3557
Local Emergency Alert System
(EAS) Stations
WXCV - 95.3
WXOF - 96.3
WSKY - 97.3
WKTK - 98.5
WTRS - 102.3
WRGO - 102.7
WRUF - 103.7
WIFL - 104.3
WRZN - 720AM
WUFT-TV - Ch. 5
WFLA-TV - Ch. 8
WTSP-TV - Ch. 10
WTVT-TV - Ch. 13
WCJB-TV - Ch. 20
WFTS-TV - Ch. 28
WTOG-TV - Ch. 44
Adelphia Cable
Brighthouse Cable
NOAA Radio - 162.400 Mhz
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