As Tropical Storm Erin tracks west, Palm Beach advises residents to stay alert, prepared
During the Town Council's meeting Aug. 12 at Town Hall, Mayor Danielle Moore encouraged residents to enroll in the town's emergency alert system, which was updated in December 2023 to provide more targeted communication with residents.
The system allows for the distribution of vital information through location-specific communications with residents, who must opt in to receive them. Communications include town alerts on weather hazards, police activity, traffic delays, road closures and other situations that affect certain parts of the town.
To opt in for location-specific communications, subscribers can visit the town's website at townofpalmbeach.com/1281/Alerts-News-Releases-and-Calendar-Notice and click the "Sign Up" button.
"As a reminder, we are in hurricane season," Moore said. "Make sure you have signed up for town alerts. Visit the town's hurricane preparedness web page to make sure you know exactly what you're doing."
Moore also encouraged residents and business owners to review the town's re-entry program, which is conducted in five phases following the passage of a storm.
Out-of-town residents, owners and lease holders, as well as business owners or property representatives, must complete a re-entry list program application in order to gain access to the town after an emergency. Applicants must have a government-issued ID to be placed on the re-entry list, which expires Dec. 31, 2026. To complete an application, visit the town's website at www.townofpalmbeach.com/329/15771/Emergency-Re-Entry-List-Program. For information, contact the town's Crime Scene Evidence Unit at 561-838-5466.
Moore advised residents who may be away during a storm to ensure their personal staff have the required documents to access the island. "We want them to be able to get on as quickly as possible and still continue to keep our residents and the town safe," she said.
If a storm were to strike, the town has assembled a new post-disaster checklist that outlines clear steps for residents to follow after a hurricane. These steps include:
Avoid standing water, downed lines, and unsafe structures.
Take photos of damage before cleaning or making repairs.
Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies only.
Apply for a building permit before structural repairs.
Return home only after the town issues an official 'All Clear.'
For more information, visit the town's website at www.townofpalmbeach.com.
As of the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center Aug. 13, Erin was located about 1,305 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts. Forecasters said Erin is moving west at 17 mph, and will likely maintain this motion until Thursday, then turn west-northwest Thursday night into the weekend.
The center of Erin likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend, according to forecasters.
"Gradual strengthening is forecast to begin later today or tonight, and Erin is expected to become a hurricane by Friday," forecasters said. The storm could strengthen into a major hurricane by Saturday. A major hurricane is any cyclone classified as Category 3 or above, with sustained winds exceeding 110 mph.
Erin could move close enough to the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend to produce some impacts there, the hurricane center said.
Most reliable computer models used by meteorologists indicate Erin will curve away from the United States.
"It is too soon to discount — or pinpoint — USA landfall impacts from Erin, but based upon current model guidance – the chance RIGHT NOW is low, at less than 10%," Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue said in an email to USA TODAY Aug. 11.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: As Erin tracks west, Palm Beach reminds residents to be storm-ready
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