According to Bay County Officials , residents located in Evacuation Zones A, B, and C are under a mandatory evacuation as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, following an emergency meeting of the Bay County Board of County Commissioners. To check your evacuation zone, visit https://www.co.bay.fl.us/511/Evacuation-Zones.

The mandatory evacuation order goes into effect at 6 a.m. Tuesday, though Emergency Operations Center (EOC) officials are urging residents who can leave on Monday to do so. For information about available lodging, please visit https://www.expedia.com/florida. Please remember to heed warnings as emergency response could be limited if conditions are deemed too dangerous for first responders.

A shelter will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Deane Bozeman School, located at 3410 State 77, Panama City, Florida 32409, including a special needs shelter for those who are registered. Please remember that shelters do not offer the comforts of home. The shelter is a place to stay, when you have no other sheltering option. It should only be used as a back-up to your personal sheltering plan. Snacks will be provided but meals will not be served so please plan accordingly. The shelter does not provide the comfort or convenience of a home or hotel, nor does it provide the level of care found in a medical facility. It may be crowded, noisy, and boring. You can expect the following:

• Snacks and water. If you want special food or snacks, you must bring it with you. Food
  must be non-perishable.
• Basic medical assistance and monitoring. Complex medical equipment or care is not
  available in special needs shelter. Please bring medical supplies and current
  medications to support your medical needs.
• An area for you and your caregiver to sleep. Caregivers are required for person in the
  special needs shelter.
• Back-up electricity for light and essential medical equipment.
  • Do Bring:
    • Bedding
    • Clothing
    • Medications
    • Your emergency kit
  • Don’t Bring:
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Illegal drugs
    • Weapons

The Florida Department of Health in Bay County will provide care and supervision to help meet your special medical needs during an evacuation. To the extent possible under emergency conditions, the shelter will provide a safe sheltering environment and basic assistance to maintain your current level of health.

Service animals (for example, dogs or miniature horses) are allowed. Their care is the sole responsibility of the owner.

You may be eligible for medical care at the shelter if:

• You have special medical needs but do not require hospitalization.
• You need assistance with basic everyday tasks.
• You have a chronic condition that requires assistance.

Please continue to monitor this storm. For the most up-to-date information about Hurricane Michael, follow Bay County Emergency Services at the links below and monitor your local media outlets. Emergency information will also be shared through Alert Bay. To sign-up go to www.alertbay.org.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BayCountyFLEmergencyServices/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayCountyEM
Website: www.baycountyfl.gov

Included below is a list of frequently asked questions for evacuations.

How do I know which evacuation zone I am in?

Enter your address on the page at the link below to learn your zone.

https://www.co.bay.fl.us/511/Evacuation-Zones

What shelters are open?

The primary general population and a special needs shelter at the Deane Bozeman School will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Deane Bozeman is located at 13410 Hwy 77, Panama City, Florida 32409. Our Special Needs shelter is also located at Deane Bozeman School.

Where should I evacuate to?

Each person will need to determine their own evacuation plan. They will need to review the available maps and forecast information from the National Hurricane Center.

During an evacuation:

• Listen to a battery-powered radio and follow local evacuation instructions.
• Take your emergency supply kit.
• Leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather.
• Take your pets with you, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency now.
• If time allows:
  • Call or email the out-of-state contact in your family communications plan. Tell
    them where you are going.
  • Secure your home by closing and locking doors and windows.
  • Unplug electrical equipment such as radios, televisions and small appliances. Leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there is a risk of flooding. If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas
    and electricity before leaving.
  • Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
  • Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provides some protection such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and a hat.
  • Check with neighbors who may need a ride.
• Follow recommended evacuation routes. Do not take shortcuts; they may be blocked.
• Be alert for road hazards such as washed-out roads or bridges and downed power lines. Do not drive into flooded areas.

Source: FEMA

Important evacuation information from the Office of the Florida CFO, Jimmy Patronis:

Medical Information: Be sure to have key medical information with you (List of medications, Health Insurance ID Cards, Record of Immunizations/Allergies, etc). If you take prescription medications regularly, you should contact your pharmacy before a storm strikes to get prescriptions filled so that you don’t run out.

Make an itemized list of your belongings: Include costs, purchase dates and serial numbers. Attach receipts, especially for “big ticket” items. Your insurance company may require proof of the cost of any item for which you make a claim. Dated photographs or videotapes of your possessions also are good ideas.

Take copies of your legal, financial and medical documents with you: This should include bank statements, insurance policies, mortgage information, credit card addresses and toll-free phone numbers, wills, birth certificates, passports and medical prescriptions.

Know Your Insurers: Write down the names of your agent and agency, your insurance company, your policy number and telephone numbers to report claims. Remember that the name of your insurance company might differ from that of your agent, agency or underwriter.

Do you have enough cash?: Remember to withdraw money before a pending disaster. Since carrying or keeping large amounts of cash in your home can be unsafe, take out only as much as you’ll need. Financial institutions usually close for at least two days after a direct hit by a hurricane, and ATMs could be out of commission even longer. Be sure to get receipts for cash purchases right before a storm.

Do you have enough credit?: Keep and protect a credit card with an available balance of at least $1,000. Use credit cards to finance minimal repairs when necessary. Document all these transactions