ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Officials in St. Johns County are warning residents to stay safe and to plan for the worst-case scenarios as Hurricane Dorian approaches the First Coast.
"Safety and lessening our risks is the order of the day," Sheriff David Shoar said during a news conference on Sunday. "We plan on the worst-case scenario because it's very difficult to ramp up than it is to ramp down. "
Shoar said residents will have unfettered access to bridges to and from St. Johns County, however, the bridges are anticipated to possibly close Tuesday due to the storm.
While mandatory evacuations of zones A and B are scheduled for Monday morning, County Administrator Michael Wanchick says residents in those areas should leave as early as Sunday evening if they are able to.
"This storm has the potential to impact St. Johns County more than any storm before," Wanchick said.
Residents were also warned by Shoar to be mindful of where they get their information as well as the risk that comes with choosing to disregard safety measures, calling Dorian a "storm of storms."
"When citizens accept the risks, oftentimes that means we have to accept the risks," he said. "If a family decides to ride out the storm in St. Augustine Shores, then they decide to leave and the car starts floating away with the family in it, we have to accept that risk to go out and save that family. We almost had it happen in the last time storm. We almost lost a public safety figure."
The latest observations show Hurricane Dorian is a devastating Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph.
"We have every reason to believe that impacts to the city will be similar to impacts from hurricanes Irma and Matthew," St. Augustine Mayor Tracy Upchurch.
Residents who have questions or need assistance concerning emergency operations can call the County Commission at 904-824-5550.
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