Florida Ports Prepare For Hurricane Frances
(September 2, 2004)

Ports along Florida's east coast are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Frances reports the Journal of Commerce.

Port Canaveral ordered all vessels to evacuate the harbor by 10 a.m. Friday. The Port Canaveral Port Authority administrative office will be closed today and tomorrow, with a scheduled re-opening of Sept. 7. The agency said that date could change depending on the severity of the storm.

The evacuation of the Canaveral Harbor must be completed and all vessels out no later than 10 a.m. Friday, at which time the harbor will be closed.

About 48 hours away from a possible Florida landfall, forecasters have issued a hurricane watch for more than 300 miles of the coast and said the watch was likely to be upgraded to a warning sometime this morning.

The Port Everglades administration offices will be closed with the exception of essential operations and security personnel Thursday and Friday, and on Sept. 6 for the Labor Day holiday.

The Coast Guard said all oceangoing vessels greater than 500 gross tons must depart the port at least 24 hours prior to the hurricane landfall, expected at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday.

Andrea Muniz, spokesperson for the Port of Miami, says that storm plans will be completed after 2 p.m. today, but at this time, container stacks have been lowered at the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Co. and APM Terminals have informed the port that they will be closed Friday.

Storm watchers said Frances is two to three times larger than Hurricane Charley, both Category 4 storms packing heavy rain and winds of 131-155 mph. Charley hit the Gulf Coast of Florida Aug. 13, killing 25 people.

Forecasters said Frances could bring five to 10 inches of rain, and warned of storm surge flooding of six to 14 feet above normal.

Return to News and Events