As the weather continues to deteriorate in Central Florida due to the imminent arrival of Hurricane Ian, Orange County Government is urging everyone to shelter in place from 9pm as it is no longer safe to be outside.
Winds are now gusting at 50 mph already, with reports of trees down in the area.
“We’ve asked all of our residents to start the process of sheltering in place,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said at a 6 p.m. news conference. “You should not be out on the roadways at this time moving about the community.”
“There’s no question that we’re now feeling the effects of this hurricane, and we haven’t seen the worst of it yet,” Demings said.
Orange County covers Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and the 1-4 tourism corridor, with all hotel guests advised to shelter in hotel rooms from 9pm also.
Orange County Sheriff's Office has posted on social media urging everyone to shelter in place:
ATTENTION anyone in Orange County. Do NOT go outside. It's NOT SAFE. We're under a Hurricane WARNING & Tornado Watch, w/ 40-50 mph wind gusts already. County leaders urge everyone: SHELTER IN PLACE.
OCSO say if you need to leave your home you should call 911 and they will help.
Ian was a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph at 8 p.m., and its center was about 95 miles southwest of Orlando, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving northeast.
Orlando is under a hurricane warning, and the National Weather Service said conditions will deteriorate Wednesday night.
“The threat of significant to catastrophic flooding” was expected for an area that includes metro Orlando, the weather agency said, and flooding can be especially dangerous at night. In addition to the wind and the storm surge, the area could get 10 to 15 inches of rain, it said.
