Volusia County issues curfew, mandatory evacuations

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County officials have issued mandatory evacuations Friday to residents living in beach side and low-lying area homes, mobile homes and RVs.

"I remember seeing the aftermath of Matt, of Andrew and this is just a little scary," Daytona Beach resident Patty Rippey said. "I hope we get lucky, but we have to prepare."

Rippey said she and her family spent the day boarding up the windows of her Daytona Beach beach side home, and placing sandbags outside the front door, before heading to the mainland to ride Hurricane Irma out. 

Neighbor Danny Funicello boarded up his mother’s home.

“She's nervous for her house and her family,” he said. “She's owned this house since 1976. So it's a family home. We're protecting a family home.”

Funicello is a contractor and plans to stay in Volusia County for the storm. He said he wants to be nearby to help the schools and hospitals, if they need repairs.

Volusia County will issue a curfew starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, and bridges could be closed as early as Sunday morning, officials said.

Emergency officials said they’re anticipating the bridges to be locked down at about noon on Sunday, and said the timing can change as the bridges are closed when the area has sustained 39 mph winds.

Officials said that as the forecast continues to change, the timing of when the bridges will be closed will change.

People were asked to stay in their homes and to avoid being on the roads.

County officials said the shelters opened Saturday morning.

Cox Media Group