Hurricane Ian

Joint Information Center

  • LAST UPDATED: Nov. 7, 2022
  • NEXT UPDATE: As changes are made

The Monroe County Joint Information Center (JIC) uses information gathered during the county coordination call and includes emergency preparation activities from Monroe County, Florida Keys municipalities, National Weather Service - Key West, and community partners. 

National Weather Service Key West Update

FINAL

FEMA

Please be advised that FEMA will be transitioning the Mobile Registration and Intake Centers to Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers in Monroe County. The recovery centers allow FEMA to provide a few expanded services to residents, like in-person case management, follow-up for already registered clients, SBA assistance, among other services). As of last week, FEMA had 2,232 Monroe County residents registered for assistance.

Below is the confirmed MDRC schedule for Monroe County. Hours of operation are 9 am – 6 pm:

  • Nelson English Park – Key West
    • 11/7 – 11/10
  • Bernstein Park – Stock Island
    • 11/11 – 11/14
  • Murray Nelson Government Center – Key Largo
    • 11/16 – 11/18

Monroe County Updates

Monroe County was added to the FEMA Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance (IA) 

Individuals in Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties can apply with FEMA the following ways:

- Monroe County parks Veterans Memorial Park is closed due to Hurricane Ian damage and repairs. 

Mental Health

Mental health resources are also available to those experiencing emotional distress from Hurricane Ian. FDEM maintains a running list of resources available to disaster survivors and first responders at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline. Individuals can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 for free crisis counseling.

Derelict Boats

If your vessel was displaced due to Hurricane Ian (for example: became derelict as a direct result of the storm), you may contact the FWC for help. If the vessel was affected to the degree you cannot recover the vessel or bring it into compliance, a waiver may be completed, which will enable the FWC to remove the vessel from the waters of the state.

To contact FWC to have a displaced vessel removed by the State:

  • 888-404-3922 Dispatch
  • david.dipre@myfwc.com
  • 305-289-2320 Mon – Fri 8-5
  • Text: tip@myfwc.com
  • Ask FWC:  https://myfwc.com/contact/tell-us/
  • OR Google – Ask FWC... and click on the button to make a request

Airports

The airport is open.

Government Office Closures

  • None

Bus Services

Key West Transit

  • Normal operations

JGT

  • Normal operations

Evacuation Order

  • There are no evacuation orders in place for residents or visitors.

Garbage Service

To assist the residents of unincorporated Monroe County due to the impact of Hurricane Ian, please read the following directions for Hurricane Ian debris removal. This will allow contracted franchisees and county staff to effectively and efficiently remove debris as quickly as possible. As a reminder to residents, this is for storm-related vegetative debris, not for land clearing or regular yard maintenance. Monroe County Solid Waste asks for your cooperation to ensure timely removal.

County staff has evaluated the amount of debris from Hurricane Ian, and we will be starting the debris removal using County assets rather than the County’s debris contractor. The amount of debris is limited, and the use of County assets is more appropriate. Should the amount of debris grow significantly, we will activate the debris contractor.

The debris plan:

Vegetative Debris – Monroe County currently requests residents utilize yard waste cans to collect small limbs, palm fronds, etc. for collection by their hauler under the normal collection when possible. Larger trees and limbs that cannot be handled through normal pickup should be placed on the county right-of-way in a pile for collection by the franchise hauler or county staff. Vegetative debris should only contain vegetation and no other materials and should only be the result of the storm; no normal lawn maintenance is allowed. Take care not to place piles in the roadway, do not block fire hydrants, water meters, or driveways, and do not place under overhead power lines.

County crews will begin vegetative debris collection this weekend and work Saturday and Sunday collecting debris that is too large to be picked up during normal yard waste/vegetation collection. The collection will continue through the week until one pass of all county roads has been completed. At that time, staff will evaluate the need for additional passes.

Bulky Items - Residents with “bulky” items (appliances, couches, dressers, etc.) that were damaged due to storm flooding should contact their garbage hauler and arrange a pickup; the haulers will collect the bulky waste at no additional charge to the homeowner. If necessary, based on call volume, county crews will supplement the franchise haulers and assist with a bulky waste pickup.  

Contact information for franchise haulers:

  • Lower Keys – Waste Management of Florida (Stock Island to 7-Mile Bridge) 305-296-8297
  • Middle Keys – Marathon Garbage Service (7-Mile Bridge to MM73) 305-743-5165
  • Upper Keys – Keys Sanitary Service (MM 91 – MM 102) 305-451-2025

Hospitals and Trauma Star

Schools

Monroe County School District

Any changes can be found on the school board's website and social media. 

College of the Florida Keys

Normal operations

Shelter Locations

A general population shelter was open at Key West High School cafeteria on Flagler Avenue. 118 sheltered from the storm there.

State Parks

Bahia Honda campground is open.

Re-entry Stickers

More information: www.monroecountyem.com/reentrystickers.

Important Links

County Info 

Information Hotline Recording: 1-800-955-5504

City of Key West Rumor Control

Live: 305-809-1101

Municipalities

Communities

Utilities

Schools