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* HELENE IS NOW EXPECTED TO BECOME A LARGE AND DANGEROUS HURRICANE, BUT THE PREDICTED PATH WILL KEEP THE CENTER OF THE STORM 150 MILES OR MORE OFF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S COAST
* A CHARLOTTE COUNTY STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED AND EVACUATIONS FOR THE BARRIER ISLANDS HAS BEEN ORDERED.
* CHARLOTTE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE IN SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, BUT CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELLED FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY BUT FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PLANS HAVEN'T BEEN ANNOUNCED YET
* ADDITIONALLY, ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY CHARLOTTE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND FACILTIES WILL BE CLOSED...COUNTY TRANSIT SERVICES WILL ALSO BE SUSPENDED.
* A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR PATRICK FULLER IS SCHEUDLED FOR WEDNESDAY AT 2 PM TO DISCUSS FURTHER COUNTY PREPARATIONS WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THAT FOR OUR LISTENERS
* FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING LOCAL HELENE PREPARATIONS, PLEASE CALL THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AT 941-833-4000.
ALSO...
- SHELTERS WILL OPEN TODAY AT 1 PM AT: HAROLD AVE. REGIONAL PARK, PORT CHARLOTTE AND KINSGWAY ELEMENTARY ON QUASAR BLVD., ALSO PORT CHARLOTTE...KINGSWAY STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED AT NOON TODAY