BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Palm Beach County officials just issued an update for all Palm Beach County residents. This is accurate as of 12:39 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, 2024:
In preparation of the effects of Hurricane Milton, County operations will cease at noon on Wednesday through Thursday. This includes county parks and beaches, libraries, Palm Tran service and senior activities. All services will be suspended beginning at noon on Wednesday through Thursday resuming on Friday, unless conditions change. Palm Beach County schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.
· Palm Beach County is issuing evacuations for residents in ZONE A.
· You need to evacuate if you live in a manufactured home/mobile home; have substandard construction; or live in a flood-prone area.
· Palm Beach County will be opening five general population shelters, the pet-friendly shelter and the Special Needs Shelter on Wednesday.
· The Special Needs Shelter opened and began receiving pre-registered residents on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Those individuals that have preregistered for our special needs shelter, have been in contact with our Emergency Management staff and will have arrangements in place.
· Five general population shelters will be opened on Wednesday at noon.
· Palm Beach Gardens High School
· Palm Beach Central High School
· Forest Hill High School
· Park Vista High School
· Lake Shore Middle School
· The one pet-friendly shelter at West Boynton Recreation Center will be open at noon on Wednesday. Please ensure you have arrived before tropical storm force winds are expected.
· As Hurricane Milton approaches, we want to keep the community informed about Palm Tran services this afternoon. The speed of the storm is being closely monitored, and we will adjust our services as necessary based on weather conditions.
· Palm Tran Service Plan:
This afternoon Wednesday, October 9, Palm Tran will maintain fixed-route service on heavily used routes and those that serve open general population shelters, weather permitting. See the attached map for locations and routes serving open hurricane shelters.
The following routes will remain operational:
• Route 1
• Route 2
• Route 3
• Route 33
• Route 33
• Route 40
• Route 46
• Route 47
Additionally, Palm Tran Connection will continue to provide transportation for eligible individuals to the special needs shelter at the South Florida Fairgrounds, also weather permitting. Go Glades service will also continue as weather permits.
We encourage everyone to stay safe and monitor local news for further updates on Hurricane Milton. If conditions worsen, we may need to modify or suspend services for the safety of our riders and staff.
Continue to visit our social media, website, and call our customer service at 561-841-4287 for updates.
· As the official destination marketing organization for Palm Beach County, Discover The Palm Beaches’ priority is the safety and comfort of our visitors and residents. The Palm Beaches are currently under a Tropical Storm Warning, as our area may experience the effects of Hurricane Milton. You can stay informed through local news outlets and follow guidance provided by emergency management officials.
If you are a visitor, please check with your accommodation to learn more about their storm procedures. Airline service and various transportation options may face delays or cancellations.
If you’re planning to visit an attraction, museum, or restaurant, contact them in advance as they may temporarily close or change hours due to weather conditions. Visitors to The Palm Beaches should refer to the official resources below to stay informed. The Destination Service Team for Discover The Palm Beaches also offers safety tips and resources for visiting groups or meetings taking place in The Palm Beaches. If you are looking for accommodations for relief from Hurricane Milton, please see below: https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/severe-weather .
· As of Tuesday, Oct. 8, bridges have been locked down and waterway traffic is being restricted.
· Winds will impact fire rescue services. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has positioned its High Water command vehicles, Flood and Swift Water teams.
· All SWA disposal facilities to close and no waste collection service in unincorporated PBC on Thursday, Oct. 10
· If you have any storm related questions, the Emergency Information Center is accepting calls at 561-712-6400.
· All Palm Beach County courthouses will be closed Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10 for Milton impacts and Friday for Yom Kippur.
· Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) will suspend flight operations on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 9 p.m. Passengers should check directly with their airline for flight updates. Shopping and dining options may be limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Passengers will not be permitted to remain at PBI after the terminal closure. Individuals who are not taking a commercial flight are discouraged from storing cars in the PBI garages during hurricane conditions.
New residents, as well as seasonal residents, who have never experienced a storm, should take proactive measures to be prepared. By now, general needs supplies should be on hand. While the landfall of Hurricane Milton will be the West Coast of Florida, the storm effects – winds, high surf, rip currents, flooding, tornados and peak tides are possible.
ALERTPBC is Palm Beach County’s Emergency Notification System allowing you to opt in to receive notifications via phone calls, text messaging, email, and more based on locations you care about. Sign up at www.alertpbc.com.
For continuing information on Major Hurricane Milton and for more information on the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management and hurricane preparedness, please visit: www.pbcgov.com/hurricane, follow us on X @PBCDEM and watch PBC-TV Channel 20.
