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Fay Expected to Arrive Sooner In County

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Highlands Today

Published: August 18, 2008

SEBRING - According to projections, Tropical Storm Fay has picked up speed and is expected to cross into Highlands County at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, three hours ealier than expected.

Early morning might see gale force winds, which are typically more than 40 mph.

By 7 a.m., the winds are expected to be countywide, picking up strength at about 9 a.m. when the south part of the county is expected to witness winds from 55 mph to 65 mph.

Tropical storm winds are expected to spread to the western half of the county by 5 p.m. Winds are expected to reduce in strength by 8 p.m. and the county should be in the clear by by 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Highlands County schools will close Tuesday. South Florida Community College campuses and off-site locations in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties will be closed starting 5 p.m. today and will be closed on Tuesday.

The college will reopen on Wednesday with normal business hours, if it is deemed safe to do so.

Highlands County's courthouse will also close.

For more information on any hurricane preparations or cautions, call the Emergency Operations Center Hotline at 385-1112.

The following locations will be converted to hurricane shelters at 6 p.m. today:
Lake Placid High School – 202 Green Dragon Drive, Lake Placid
Woodlawn Elementary School – 781 Fielder Blvd., Sebring
Avon Park Recreational Center – 207 E. State Road, Avon Park

For special needs, the Highlands County Agri-Civic Center will open at 5 p.m. today.

Pets can be taken to the following locations:
The Dawg House – 69 Dawg Drive, Lake Placid
Dog Design by Dana – 701 Thunderbird Hill Road, Sebring
Avon Park Holiness Camp – 1001 West Lake Isis Ave., Avon Park

If you use a shelter, bring food for today or eat before you arrive.

Filled sand bags can be picked up at 800 Sheriff Tower Road in Sebring. Empty sand bags can be picked up at the Emergency Operations Center at 6850 W. George Blvd. in Sebring.

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