INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — All eyes are following the track of Tropical Storm Dorian, and as it made a shift north Tuesday, some residents in Indian River County started shopping for supplies.
“This is my first year here in Florida, so this will be my first storm. Everyone’s like 'get your gas, get your water today'. Sure enough, there’s no water left on the shelves. They said tomorrow they might have more for us,” said Vero Beach resident Lisa Mueller, while shopping at a Vero Beach Walmart.
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Others like Jim and Danielle Jones say they stay stocked up on supplies like bread and water all year. That way, they say they do not worry about being prepared.
“Towards the end of the week, people are going to start freaking, but that’s their problem,” Jim Jones said. “Just a rainstorm,” Danielle Jones hoped.
Indian River County Emergency Management officials told county officials Tuesday that they are currently in the monitoring stage. Emergency Management staff are meeting with the school district and law enforcement staff on Wednesday morning.
They are also planning a possible partial EOC activation at 8 AM Friday, which is subject to change with any changes in the storm’s track.
St. Lucie County also updated its preparation efforts Tuesday, saying while it is too early to decide if general population shelters will be needed, residents who might need to use the pet-friendly shelter or the special medical needs shelter are encouraged to pre-register at www.stlucieco.gov .
St. Lucie County’s Public Works staff has already begun staging equipment and lowering canal levels where they can.
Crews are also making sure the drainage systems are debris-free.
Waste Pro garbage and recycling collections will continue on its normal schedule, but county leaders are asking residents to stop putting out yard debris and tree limbs.
St. Lucie County expects to active its Emergency Operations Center before the end of the week, but that is subject to change with and changes in the storm’s track.