Tropical Depression 9 is now Tropical Storm Ian

Press release from Alachua County

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Ian’s path is currently projected to make landfall anywhere from the panhandle to the Keys. Although there are still a lot of uncertainties with the path of the storm, it is likely that it will be a Florida storm, which could affect Alachua County next week.

There is a good chance that this storm could become a major hurricane before making landfall, so early preparedness is a must. Take the weekend to make sure you and your family have taken all necessary preparedness steps so that if this storm decides to make its way to Alachua County, you will be ready. Doing things like trimming tree branches, securing lawn furniture, storing toys, tools, and grills, cleaning gutters, and removing obstructions around windows can help prepare your home for winds and heavy rainfall.

“As a community, we are stronger than the individual,” said Alachua County Emergency Manager Jen Grice. “We encourage all of our residents to reach out to their friends, families, and neighbors to provide help and encouragement to those that may have a more difficult time getting prepared. Whole community preparedness ensures that if disaster does strike, we will be able to bounce back quicker and stronger.”

The “Cone of Uncertainty” is a tool and graphic that is most commonly used, but there is still a great deal of confusion about what it actually means and how to interpret it properly. We urge you to watch this 3-minute video produced by the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center that explains exactly how to understand the “Cone” https://youtu.be/04QRN5gUe08