St Johns County issues Tropical Storm Erika situation report

St. Johns County Emergency Operations Center Director, Linda Stoughton, has informed local Historic City News reporters that we will continue to receive a Situation Report automatically as Tropical Storm Erika continues its path in the Atlantic Ocean towards land.  Currently, the Emergency Operation Center is at Activation Level 3; which means that they are monitoring the situation.

At noon Wednesday, the center of Tropical Storm Erika was located near 16.1N 57.6W or approximately 285 miles east-southeast of Antigua moving west at 17 mph.  Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with tropical storm force winds extending out 105 miles primarily to the east of the center.

Little change in strength is expected during the next 72 hours as Erika begins to encounter wind shear as it approaches Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.  If Erika survives the next 72 hours of wind shear it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane.

—  St. Johns County Emergency Management is requesting that any departments or organizations that are taking any actions relative to the storm please advise us by email so that they can be added to our situation reports.

—  Now would be a good time for all citizens to review their emergency plan and supplies, as well as determine their Evacuation Zone

—  Please take this time to make sure that your NOAA weather radio is operational.  The programming numbers for the NOAA weather radios are as follows:

• North St. Johns County – Jacksonville Transmitter – 162.550
• Southern St. Johns County – Palatka Transmitter – 162.425
• A.M.E number for specific County programming – 012109

As of this advisory St. Johns County is within the National Hurricane Centers 5-day Potential Track Cone where the average error in track forecast is 225 – 250 miles.  The earliest potential for tropical storm force winds over the Florida peninsula would be Sunday morning.

St. Johns County Emergency Management is participating in conference calls with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and National Hurricane Center for the most up-to-date information on Tropical Storm Erika.

National Weather Service is reporting that tonight we are expecting a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 6 to 9 mph.