With Hurricane Irma projected to move up the east coast of Florida, Brevard County Emergency Management officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation of more than 100,000 residents.
The order applies to Zone A -- including those living on Merritt Island and low-lying areas along the Indian River Lagoon.
Officials urge residents to prepare their homes and to take shelter before the arrival of tropical storm-force winds, which are expected Saturday night.
The evacuation officially begins at 3 p.m. Friday, when the following shelters will open:
Pet friendly shelters:
- Port St. John Community Center, 6650 Corto Road, Port St. John
- Viera Regional Community Center, 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera
- Wickham Park Community Center, 2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne
- Ted Whitlock Community Center at Fred Poppe Regional Park, 1951 Malabar Rd NW, Palm Bay
General population shelters:
- Apollo Elementary School, 3085 Knox McRae Dr., Titusville
- Imperial Estates Elementary School, 900 Imperial Estates Lane, Titusville
- Space Coast Junior/Senior High, 6150 Banyan Street, Port St John
- Walter Butler Community Center at Bernice Jackson Park, 4201 US Highway 1, Cocoa
- Manatee Elementary School, 3425 Viera Blvd., Viera
- Sherwood Elementary School, 2541 Post Road, Melbourne
- Melbourne High School, 74 Bulldog Blvd., Melbourne
- Meadowlane Intermediate Elementary, 2700 Wingate Blvd., West Melbourne
- Heritage High School 2351 Malabar Rd., Palm Bay
- Bayside High School, 1901 DeGroodt Rd. S.W. Palm Bay
- South Mainland Community Center, 3700 Allen Ave., Micco
Brevard residents who live in mobile or manufactured homes or in other flood-prone areas are also encouraged to evacuate.
Shelters will provide food, but residents will need to bring their own supplies, including:
- Bedding
- Folding chairs or sleeping bags
- All medications
- Multiple changes of clothing and shoes
- Personal hygiene items
- Entertainment (games, cards, books, magazines, etc)
Call the county's community information hotline at 211 for further details.