Voluntary evacuations underway for communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee

Voluntary evacuations are in effect for all communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee in Glades County, and for those living in flood-prone areas or mobile homes in Hendry County.

Over the last 24 hours, wind has started to pick up, but the rain has remained light.

On top of the voluntary evacuations, Lake O itself is under a Tropical Storm Watch.

Jasmine Ramirez and her family plan to stay put in their Clewiston home but they’re not taking Dorian lightly.

“We’ve been up since six o’clock this morning trying to get everything ready. We went to get sandbags and we’re putting up the boards now,” Ramirez said.

The US Army Corps of Engineers expect Lake Okeechobee to rise two to three-and-a-half feet because of Dorian.

During the storm, the corps will not release water to the Caloosahatchee or St. Lucie rivers.