Hurricane Matthew: Mandatory curfew in effect for Volusia County

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County has issued a mandatory curfew effective at midnight Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday.

Law-enforcement officers won't stop people from evacuating, but anyone caught loitering could be charged with a misdemeanor.

A mandatory evacuation was ordered Wednesday evening for Volusia County residents living on the beach side, low-lying areas and RV and mobile-home parks.

The City of Port Orange is urging all residents east of Nova Road to evacuate to higher ground at a minimum.  Coastal areas east of Nova Road could experience a possibility of 11 feet of storm surge and 9 feet of standing water or more. All Port Orange shelters are full. Contact Volusia County’s Citizen Information Center for the most current shelter information at 1-866-345-0345.

The county's public shelters opened at 8 a.m. and all east side shelters are at capacity. West side shelters are open:

University High School: 1000 W Rhode Island Ave, Orange City, FL 32763
Taylor Middle/High School: 100 E Washington Ave, Pierson, FL 32180
Pine Ridge High School: 926 Howland Blvd, Deltona, FL 32738 
Deltona High School: 100 Wolf Pack Run, Deltona, FL 32725
DeLand High School. 800 N Hill Ave, DeLand, FL 32724

All Votran bus stops are evacuation collection sites to take evacuees to a transfer point, where they will board school buses for transportation to a shelter. No fares are charged during an evacuation or return. All Votran vehicles will be removed from roads when winds are sustained at 35 mph. Service will resume as soon as possible once Hurricane Matthew clears the area. Votran has para-transit services for people with special needs. Special needs citizens can call 386-756-7496.

Because the county's website is running slow due to the high traffic, officials urge residents to check Volusia County's Emergency Management Facebook page and Twitter account for updated information.

The county was placed under a hurricane warning Wednesday morning as Hurricane Matthew slowly churned its way north.

The county plans to shut down the bridges to the mainland at sundown Thursday, officials said. Deputies will barricade the bridges to stop anyone from getting across.

“Get out. You have plenty of time to get out. We can’t come get you,” said recently-elected Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

Current Sheriff Ben Johnson pleaded with county residents to follow the evacuation order.

"Use your heads, I mean, you're supposed to be intelligent individuals out there," he said. "Get off of those barrier islands. Get out of those trailer parks. Get out of the low lying areas. We have places for you to go."

Resident Vince Ferinte said he believed his family, including his daughter and grandchildren, can make it through the hurricane despite the warnings from state and local officials.

“They’re like us to leave but we’re going to try and stick it out,” said Ferinte.

But homeowners like Heath Barrow aren’t taking the risk.

“We’re probably going to get a little way’s away. Not terribly far, but get off the beachside,” he said.

The county took all portable lifeguard stations off the beach and shut down the entrances.

Daytona Beach International Airport will continue to monitor the weather and update the public. Travelers are encouraged to contact their airlines directly for specific flight details.

Bethune-Cookman University issued a mandatory evacuation order and suspended classes at noon Wednesday. Everyone must be evacuated by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Officials expect residence halls to reopen Sunday. Other universities announced closures.

Eyewitness News talked to a couple in Port Orange who left their home.

“We are in a manufactured home, so I’m a little apprehensive, and I'd rather be in a hotel that we know has some kind of hurricane protection,” Nancy Keogh said.

Visitors from Great Britain told Eyewitness News they hope they can enjoy their last few days in Florida before the weather changes.

"We've never seen this sort of weather that you have over here in the U.K.," said tourist Jackie Watkins.

Joshua Justice and his neighbors are still cleaning up the mess left behind when a violent thunderstorm blew through his neighborhood last week.

“I had one of the big branches actually come down and I lost a big section of the fence,” Justice said.

The debris damaged several vehicles.

Justice is now boarding up his windows and preparing for the worst.

“I can just hope for the best and we get lucky,” Justice said.

VOLUSIA COUNTY SHELTERS OPEN THURSDAY:

Open 8 a.m. Thursday
Heritage Middle 
DeLand High
Atlantic High 
Creekside Middle 
Sweetwater Elementary (at capacity)
New Smyrna Beach High

Open 9 a.m. Thursday
University High
Galaxy Middle 
Pine Ridge High
River Springs Middle 
Hinson Middle

Open 11 a.m. Thursday
Taylor Middle/High
Pathways Elementary School (at capacity)

For a list of school addresses, click here.

SpNS Shelters (Special Needs Shelters)
For elderly, physically, mentally or sensory disabled, visually or hearing impaired residents or those who need supplemental oxygen. Evacuees should be accompanied by a caregiver if this type of assistance normally is needed.

SpNS are not for people who need 24-hour dedicated care, a hospital bed, ventilator or other complex care, or isolation patients. These individuals should discuss other shelter arrangements with their physician or home health service provider or caregiver.

PF Shelters – Pet Friendly
Small animals only, must be crated and cared for by owners (leash, food, water must be brought and will not be provided); will be housed in a separate location at shelter. Only the fairgrounds houses people and pets in the same location.

Raw: Volusia County surf conditions ahead of Hurricane Matthew

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