County issues mandatory evacuation order that includes Palm Beach ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole
Palm Beach is included in a mandatory evacuation order issued by Palm Beach County ahead of the expected Thursday arrival of Tropical Storm Nicole, but the town said it will not force residents to leave their homes.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, county officials said evacuations will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday for zones A and B, which includes mobile homes, barrier islands and low-lying areas. Palm Beach is in zone B.
However, Town Manager Kirk Blouin said town police will not go door-to-door to convince people to leave their homes ahead of the storm.
Live updates: Subtropical Storm Nicole expected to reach hurricane strength before landfall
More: No physical ID cards available for 2022 storm season
"We're not going to force evacuations," he said. "In my opinion, the order is a knee-jerk reaction to what happened on the west coast with Hurricane Ian. There was criticism over there that they didn't issue the evacuation orders early enough. We'll notify the public that Palm Beach County issued evacuation orders."
For information on the town's evacuation and re-entry procedures, visit www.townofpalmbeach.com/582/Evacuation-and-Re-Entry
Shelters will open beginning Wednesday at 7 a.m. They are: Independence Middle School, Palm Beach Gardens High School, Palm Beach Central High School, Park Vista High School, Lake Shore Middle School and Pahokee Middle-Senior High.
With the storm continuing to track toward a landfall on Florida's east coast, the town on Tuesday removed lifeguard stands from the beach and construction crews were told to secure their sites.
The Town Council also agreed Tuesday to hold its development review meeting Wednesday on Zoom.
After initially agreeing to reschedule the meeting for Nov. 15 from 3 to 9 p.m., the council reversed course after the mandatory evacuation order was announced.
Live updates: Subtropical Storm Nicole expected to reach hurricane strength before landfall
More: No physical ID cards available for 2022 storm season
Subtropical Storm Nicole formed northeast of the Bahamas early Monday morning, and is expected to reach hurricane strength before approaching Florida's east coast with landfall somewhere between Miami and Cape Canaveral, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Meteorologists are calling for dangerous storm surge of up to 5 feet in northern Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, with 2 to 4 feet in central and southern Palm Beach County. Wind speeds are forecast to hit a sustained 75 mph with 90 mph gusts.
A hurricane warning for areas from Boca Raton through the Flagler/Volusia County line has been issued ahead of what is now Tropical Storm Nicole.
Nicole, which had been considered subtropical until the National Hurricane Center's 10 a.m. update, has sustained 65 mph winds and is moving west at 10 mph as of the 4 p.m. update .
It is about 395 miles east of West Palm Beach.
Nicole's current forecast track has it making landfall between Boynton Beach and St. Augustine late Wednesday into Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane.
Hurricane conditions are possible in Palm Beach by Wednesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by tonight, the town said in a release Monday.
"The combination of an unusually high tide, and the approach of this storm, will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline," according to the town.
Palm Beach began making preparations for potential impacts from Nicole several days ago, Town Manager Kirk Blouin told the Daily News.
"We've been monitoring it for several days," Blouin said Monday. "Obviously, as it starts to get closer, we'll become more concerned. ... We're still working through our checklist. Individual departments have their own areas of responsibility, preparing their equipment and staffing up for a potential event."
Yard trimming suspended
The town is asking all residents and businesses to suspend trimming and placing yard debris in stash areas or in the public right-of-way until after Subtropical Storm Nicole is no longer a threat or the storm has passed, according to a statement on its website.
Waste placed curbside before the possible landfall of this storm will hinder collection and disposal efforts, and diminish storm drainage capabilities, the town said.
The town may suspend all garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections prior to the storm and until it is safe to do so after the storm. Further announcements will be issued as necessary.
For information, call 561-838-5440.
Lifeguard stands removed
With higher than normal tides and days of heaving waves the town used cranes to lift its lifeguard stands off Midtown Beach Tuesday morning.
Chief lifeguard Craig Pollock said he hasn't had to remove the stands in years. Storm surge is forecast to reach up to 3 feet along central and south Palm Beach County's coastline.
"It's better to be safe than sorry," Pollock said. "We don't have a lot of real estate here in front of the main tower so we need to get them off the beach."
Pollock said a strong northerly current was sweeping south along the coast.
"It's not super friendly out there," he said.
Town beaches will be closed Wednesday, Blouin said.
Palm Beach Public closed until Friday
Palm Beach Public Elementary School will be closed Wednesday and Thursday following a School District of Palm Beach County announcement.
Palm Beach Day Academy is expected to make a decision on campus closures later this afternoon, Head of School Fanning Hearon said.
Chamber breakfast canceled
The Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce has canceled its November breakfast meeting scheduled for Thursday at The Breakers. The meeting will not be rescheduled.
The next meeting will be held Dec. 12 at The Breakers.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Palm Beach Post reporter Kimberly Miller contributed to this story.
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. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Tropical Storm Nicole: Palm Beach in zone for mandatory evacuations
