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Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

More than 380,000 in Pinellas County ordered to evacuate, largest in history

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CLEARWATER - Responding to Hurricane Charley, Pinellas County Commissioners unanimously ordered the largest mandatory evacuation in county history.

The board declared a local state of emergency for Pinellas County beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Gary Vickers, the county emergency management director, called for the first mandatory evacuation of Pinellas affecting people in in evacuation areas A, B and C, along with all mobile home parks, a population of more than 380,000 people.

Vickers said it could qualify as the "largest peacetime evacuation" ever in mainland United States.

Most of the people affected live in low-lying coastal areas.

The evacuation officially begins at 6 p.m. Thursday and will last until 1 p.m. Friday, one hour before the tropical storm force winds land on the coast.

Hurricane winds are expected to reach Pinellas by 6 p.m. Friday.

Key points at this time:

-Major East Coast Flooding is likely during the next 5 days
-Damaging Storm Surge Possible on FL Gulf Coast
-Damaging Winds Likely Across Central Florida

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Bonnie is weakening, and will become extratropical over the next 24 hours while dropping a swath of 4-8" (isolated 10"+) of rain from the Southeast US to New England. Flooding will become a great concern in many regions of the East Coast by late Friday and flooding problems will continue until Charley is out of the picture next week.

All eyes are now on Hurricane Charley as it begins to gain momentum south of Cuba. Charley reached Category 2 status with the 2pm EDT advisory and is poised to be the first major Hurricane of this young season. A major land-falling hurricane on the East Coast of Florida could have significant consequences. Today's evacuations are expected to grow to 500,000 in the Tampa area. The time to get out of lowlying areas along Florida's central Gulf Coast is now.

Bonnie : Flooding & Severe Weather Likely Along Bonnie's Path
MAX Winds : 40mph - Gusts : -- (1:00pm CDT : Aug, 12)

Statement as of 1:00 PM CDT on August 12, 2004

...Bonnie begins to lose tropical characteristics...but still
producing strong squalls along the Florida Big Bend...

at 2 PM EDT...1800z...the Tropical Storm Warning from Apalachicola
Florida westward is discontinued. A Tropical Storm Warning remains
in effect from east of Apalachicola to the mouth of the Suwannee
river.

Charley : Damaging Wind, Storm Surge/Beach Erosion, Severe Weather, & Flooding Along Charley's Path
MAX Winds : 105mph - Gusts : -- (1:00pm CDT : Aug, 12)

Statement as of 1:00 PM CDT on August 12, 2004

...Charley rapidly strengthens into a category two hurricane as it
moves toward western Cuba...

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Florida Keys from the
Dry Tortugas to the Seven Mile Bridge...and for the southwest
Florida coast from East Cape Sable to Bonita Beach. The warning
will likely be extended northward later today or tonight. A
Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to
protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch remains in effect from north of Bonita Beach to
the Suwannee river. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane
conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within
36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the Florida Keys from
the Seven Mile Bridge to Ocean Reef...and along the South Florida
Mainland from Ocean Reef to East Cape Sable...including all of
Florida Bay. A tropical storm watch may be required for portions of
the Florida East Coast later today.

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