Tropical

Astor expected to flood from Hurricane Matthew, voluntary evacuations ordered

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A voluntary evacuation order has been issued by Lake County officials for residents living in Astor along the St. Johns River.

Officials believe the area will flood once Hurricane Matthew makes landfall Friday morning.

A river flood warning for the St. Johns River was issued Thursday by the National Weather Service. The river is expected to crest at Astor at 3.9 feet, over one foot above normal flood level, between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday.

Lake County Fire Rescue and deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office plan to go door-to-door to warn residents about the flooding.

Impacted areas may include Blue Creek Point, Astor Forest Campsites, Powell’s Subdivision, St. Johns Waterfront Estates, Holiday Haven Campsites, Alco Road, Blue Creek Lodge Road and Tarrogona Way on the south shore of Lake George.

The closest emergency shelters to Astor are Spring Creek Elementary, 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley, and Umatilla Elementary, 401 Lake St., Umatilla. Both shelters are pet-friendly and Umatilla can also accommodate special-needs persons.

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“Residents in Astor have experienced flooding in the past; however, this is a major hurricane with the potential to cause deadly prolonged flooding and should be taken seriously,” said Lake County Commission Chairman Sean Parks. “The safety of our citizens is our top priority and we urge residents near the river to evacuate to a safe location during this storm.”

To sign up for the latest emergency notifications, visit www.alertlake.com. For more information about Emergency Management, visit www.lakecountyfl.gov/emergency and follow Emergency Management at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFLEmergencyManagement and www.twitter.com/lakeemergency. For the latest information, residents can call the Citizens Information Line 24/7 at 352-253-9999.