Likelihood of area evacuation very low, says official

STAFF REPORT
Staff Writer

The likelihood of Lake County having to evacuate because of a hurricane is extremely, extremely low, said Director of Emergency Management Jerry Smith.

But that doesn't mean that the county hasn't planned for it. Smith said usually the only evacuations that take place are those in mobile homes, unsafe home and those living in low-lying areas or flood prone areas. Even then, Smith said, they are evacuated to shelters or friends and family.

Lake County, being an inland county, is more of a host county for those evacuating from coastal counties. But there are evacuation routes and plans in place. In the case of an evacuation, U.S. Highway 27, U.S. Highway 441, Highway 50, State Road 19 and State Road 44 would be utilized depending on where the danger was coming from and where the county wanted to herd the people to. If a mass evacuation did take place, Smith said providing fuel could be an issue. Smith said the plan could possibly use improvement in that area, but that all over the state the concern of providing fuel is an issue.

"Until 1998 when they evacuated Flagler county, I'd say it wasn't likely," Smith said. "The likelihood of our entire county (evacuating) is extremely, extremely low. We're a huge county." Smith said it wouldn't be related to a hurricane, it would have to be county- wide wildfires or a terrorist event to cause a mass evacuation out of Lake County.