Gov. Declares Emergency as Dorian’s Track Shifts South

Key Biscayne Village Manager Andrea Agha, left, listens as Fire Chief Eric Lang makes point during staff meeting to discuss a worsening forecast for Dorian. (Key News/Tony Winton)

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Wednesday as Hurricane Dorian’s predicted track shifted a little to the south, placing the entire east coast of Florida into danger from a growing storm. Key Biscayne officials are preparing to activate formal storm plans — if needed — as forecasters upgraded  Dorian to hurricane status Wednesday.

“All indications are that by this Labor Day weekend, a powerful hurricane will be near or over the Florida peninsula,” said Lixion Avila, a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters says the storm is predicted to get even bigger in size and strength, growing to  a dangerous Category 3 system as it pushes northwest in the general direction of Florida. Avila said the system has developed an inner core with an eye about 20 miles wide. Forecasters put a 48% chance of at least tropical storm force winds hitting Miami at some point during the weekend.

Village Manager Andrea Agha conducted a run-through Wednesday of what’s known as the Incident Command System, a formal emergency management protocol. “We are taking this seriously,” she said. “It doesn’t look like a direct hit, but we’re ready.” Officials also held a conference call with condominium presidents.

An evacuation decision for the Miami barrier island falls to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, and Key Biscayne and its 13,000 residents is in a mandatory evacuation zone. Fire Chief Eric Lang said that if an order is given, Village staff would likely leave the island Friday. Plans call for an emergency command post on the mainland for key personnel.

At 5.m EDT, winds were 80 miles-per-hour and the system was 45 miles northwest of St. Thomas.

In this graphic from the National Hurricane Center, the track of Hurricane Dorian is shown as of 5 p.m. Aug. 28, 2019 (National Hurricane Center via Key News)