Hurricane Dorian: Shelters to open Sunday; federal disaster declaration approved

DeSantis advised that residents should prepare for the possibility of losing power and be stocked with enough food, water and medicine for seven days.

Because the storm is slow-moving, DeSantis said Dorian could create more opportunities for flooding, and king tides will only increase the likelihood.

"If you're in an area that has flooded in past storms like Irma ... you're almost assuredly to experience flooding if this thing comes across and impacts you," DeSantis said.

Lake Okeechobee has room for four feet of rain, officials told DeSantis.

DeSantis said the state would be either calling or visiting the nursing homes or assisted living facilities that have yet to comply with generator requirements put in place following the deaths of patients at a Hollywood nursing home after Hurricane Irma. Recently some employees had been charged in those deaths.

Most of these facilities in Palm Beach County are in compliance, but at least 10 are not.

"That sends a message going into the storm: If you have vulnerable people in your care, it's your responsibility to make sure that you have a plan in place to protect those folks," he said.

Palm Beach Post staff reporter Lulu Ramadan contributed to this report.

hmorse@pbpost.com

@mannahhorse

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