The latest information from the AP.
BC-Hurricane Ivan-Florida, 1st Ld-Writethru,0212
URGENT
Tourists, residents told to leave Florida Keys because of Hurricane
Ivan
Eds: ADDS detail throughout
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - Tourists and residents were told Thursday
to evacuate the Florida Keys because the powerful Hurricane Ivan
could hit the island chain by Sunday.
Monroe County emergency officials said the order was effective
at 9 a.m. Thursday for island tourists. It is the third visitor
evacuation ordered in the Keys in a month, the previous two coming
for Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
Mobile home residents were urged to begin evacuating at 6 p.m.
Thursday, and other residents were told to leave Friday.
At 8 a.m., Ivan's center was about 455 miles southeast of
Kingston, Jamaica, or about 1,000 miles southeast of Miami. It had
top sustained winds of 160 mph.
National Hurricane Center forecasters predict that Ivan could
hit the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 131
to 155 mph, late Sunday or early Monday.
"I don't think that people will think twice when we tell them
it's a Four heading right at us. I think they will be pretty
responsive," said Monroe County emergency manager Irene Toner.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-09-09-04 0847EDT
BC-Hurricane Ivan-Florida, 1st Ld-Writethru,0212
URGENT
Tourists, residents told to leave Florida Keys because of Hurricane
Ivan
Eds: ADDS detail throughout
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - Tourists and residents were told Thursday
to evacuate the Florida Keys because the powerful Hurricane Ivan
could hit the island chain by Sunday.
Monroe County emergency officials said the order was effective
at 9 a.m. Thursday for island tourists. It is the third visitor
evacuation ordered in the Keys in a month, the previous two coming
for Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
Mobile home residents were urged to begin evacuating at 6 p.m.
Thursday, and other residents were told to leave Friday.
At 8 a.m., Ivan's center was about 455 miles southeast of
Kingston, Jamaica, or about 1,000 miles southeast of Miami. It had
top sustained winds of 160 mph.
National Hurricane Center forecasters predict that Ivan could
hit the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 131
to 155 mph, late Sunday or early Monday.
"I don't think that people will think twice when we tell them
it's a Four heading right at us. I think they will be pretty
responsive," said Monroe County emergency manager Irene Toner.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-09-09-04 0847EDT




