TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida officials want residents to evacuate the area directly south of Lake Okeechobee as Hurricane Irma approaches.
Gov. Rick Scott released a statement Thursday ordering an immediate voluntary evacuation for cities surrounding the southern half of the lake from Lake Port to Canal Point in Hendry, Palm Beach and Glades counties.
Mandatory evacuations will be put in place beginning Friday morning.
"This decision was made due to our sole focus on life safety as Hurricane Irma approaches Florida," Scott said Friday at a news conference in West Palm Beach.
Scott made the decision after discussing the Herbert Hoover Dike with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Col. Jason Kirk told Scott the structural integrity of the dike would not be compromised, but excessive wind could push some water over the dike.
The seven cities affected by the order are Belle Glade, Canal Point, Clewiston, Lake Harbor, Moore Haven, Pahokee and South Bay.
Scott said Floridians should pay attention to the storm surge forecast, as it's projected to be between 3 to 10 feet in some areas.
"The majority of Florida will have major hurricane impacts, with deadly storm surge and life-threatening winds," Scott said. "I will expect this along the entire east coast and the entire west coast."
The governor said the Florida Keys will start feeling the effects of the storm Saturday morning.
All members of the National Guard have now been activated, Scott said.
About 3,000 to 4,000 Florida National Guard members will be assigned to Miami-Dade County and will initially be stationed at shelters.
They will then head out into neighborhoods as needed after the storm passes.
Florida residents can call the Florida Emergency Information Hotline if needed at 800-342-3557 or go to floridadisaster.org/info to find out updated information on evacuations throughout the state.