Mandatory evacuations and curfew ordered for Volusia County.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News 

Officials with Volusia County Government held a press conference ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, announcing a mandatory evacuation order for certain parts of Volusia County effective as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, with a completion time of 4 p.m. that afternoon. A curfew has also been ordered, which will run from 7 p.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday.

“Each municipality is in charge of implementing and enforcing the evacuation and curfew orders in their jurisdictions,” said Keven Captain, Director of Community Information.

The mandatory evacuations are for all residences and businesses that are:

• East of the Intracoastal Waterway
• All manufactured and mobile home dwellers east of Interstate 95
• All low-lying areas and other areas prone to flooding
• All campsites and RV recreational park

Evacuees are encouraged to stay with family, friends, or an inland hotel and must complete their evacuation by 4 p.m. Wednesday because conditions will begin to deteriorate significantly. Bridges that cross the Intracoastal Waterway will be closed to eastbound traffic when sustained winds reach 39 mph. When the curfew begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the bridges will be closed in both directions.

“Please take this storm seriously, as it is a direct threat to life and property,” said County Manager George Recktenwald.

The County-wide curfew is in place to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Volusia County residents and visitors.

The curfew does not apply to:

• Regular members of law enforcement bodies
• Regular employees of a business, industry, or government entity while traveling from their jobs
• All emergency workers

Any person who knowingly violates this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment in Volusia County Branch jail for up to 60 days.

“The County is taking this storm very seriously, and the safety of our residents is paramount,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “There is an imminent danger of building collapses on the beachside.”

It is important to remember that Volusia County has a lot of vulnerable infrastructures, especially on the coastline, due to Hurricane Ian, and even a Tropical Storm could cause even more damage than expected due to the weakened integrity of the coastline structures.