Seminole County residents will be under a curfew that begins 5 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday as Hurricane Matthew goes through the Central Florida region.
Orange County Mayor Theresa Jacobs announced a curfew beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday night and lasting until 7 a.m. Saturday morning.
Curfew hours in @OrangeCoFL are from Thursday, October 6 at 10 p.m. until Saturday, October 8 at 7 a.m.
— Mayor Teresa Jacobs (@Mayor_Jacobs) October 6, 2016
“Be prepared today to get off the streets, if at all possible, by 6 p.m.,” Jacobs said.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings announced the Sheriff’s Office will be at full strength while the hurricane spends 25 hours over the county.
“I want you to understand that this is an all-hands-on-deck for emergency response in Orange County,” said Demings.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined Jacobs in encouraging all residents to stay off the roads and encourage conservation of gas and sharing of resources for those evacuating.
Orange County and the University of Central Florida Office of Emergency Management activated their Level 1 status, the highest emergency support and operation function for dangerous events.
The Orlando Utilities Commission stated that backup generators are in place to maintain water quality at its highest levels.
“I just want to assure this community that OUC is doing everything possible to make sure we respond as quickly and safely as possible,” spokeswoman Roseann Harrington said.
Orlando Sanford International Airport closed in response to the storm. Orlando International Airport will begin to see flights cancelled at 8 p.m. Thursday and through Friday.
Florida Governor Rick Scott spoke around noon on the need of all affected coastal residents to evacuate immediately.
