Evacuations Ordered, Emergency Declared

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M​andatory evacuations have been issued in parts of Florida, schools are closing, airports shutting down and residents are boarding up windows as Nicole tracks toward the state's Atlantic coast.

V​olusia and Palm Beach counties announced mandatory evacuations of certain residents and areas on Tuesday.

“Tropical Storm Nicole poses a direct threat to property and life,” Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald said in a news release. "Residents need to take this storm seriously.”

(​MORE: The Latest Forecast, Watches And Warnings For Nicole)

Orlando International Airport plans to shut down at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Airports in Sanford and Melbourne also plan to close. Airlines including American, Delta and Southwest are waiving change fees and cruise lines are changing itineraries.

P​alm Beach County Mayor Robert Weinroth in a Tuesday afternoon news briefingannounced evacuation orders for residents in zones A and B, which includes barrier islands, places prone to flooding and vulnerable structures. More than 50,000 residents live in mobile homes and about 60,000 on barrier islands, WPBF-TV reported.

More than 20 county school districts had called off classes for all or part of the rest of the week as of Tuesday night. Closures in the eastern half of the state stretch from St. Johns in the northern corner to Miami-Dade at the southern tip.

(WATCH: Florida Businesses Prepare For Nicole As They Rebuild After Ian)

Counties including Brevard, Indian River and S​t. Lucie are advising residents on barrier islands and those living in low-lying areas or mobile homes to evacuate, as well as anyone who is medically vulnerable.

"We are going to do voluntary evacuations at this time based on the conditions," Indian River County spokesperson Kathy Copeland told weather.com in a phone call Tuesday afternoon.

B​eaches in Indian River County were being closed, and recreation facilities shut down. Shelters were set to open at Vero Beach High and Treasure Coast Elementary.

Thirty-four counties in Florida are under a state of emergency due to the potential of flooding and other impacts from Nicole.

M​any of those areas are still recovering from Hurricane Ian. The storm's worst damage was in Lee County on the southern Gulf Coast, but deadly and destructive flooding happened across the state, including along the Atlantic Coast where officials are advising residents to remain alert.

Volusia County's coastline was heavily damaged by Ian in September. Dunes and seawalls were washed out, leaving many buildings vulnerable to storm surge and high surf. Inland flooding and wind, meanwhile, damaged dozens of homes.

"I​f you're worried about the structural integrity of your house, I'd urge you to find shelter elsewhere," Jessica Fentress, the county's coastal division director said at a briefing Monday.

“This is a compounding storm event. Where the damages you already start off with, you may have more damages tonight, you might have even more damage tomorrow and you may have even more damages the following day.”

Residents up and down the coast are being warned to beware of dangerous rip currents and high surf.

(​MORE: Nicole Maps Tracker, Spaghetti Models, Forecast Path, Wind Speeds And More)

Ron Guerrero, director of public safety in St. Lucie County, said those on barrier islands need to especially be ready for the possibility of coastal flooding.

"​We want to be prepared for those residents out there to take the necessary precautions," Guerrero told weather.com in a phone call Monday afternoon.

B​esides Indian River, St. Lucie and Volusia, other counties under the state of emergency include: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia.

The state of emergency includes inland areas along the St. Johns River, which flows north from Indian River County to Jacksonville. The river hasn't dropped below flood stagesince Hurricane Ian.

(​MORE: Seven Things Florida Newcomers Should Know About Hurricane Season)

N​icole transitioned into a tropical storm Tuesday morning, but what the storm is called matters little when it comes to preparations. Some areas could see up to 5 feet of storm surge and multiple inches of rain.

"No matter whether Nicole strikes Florida as a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane, it will bring widespread impacts to the state," said weather.com senior digital meteorologist Chris Dolce. "Florida's East coast can expect significant coastal flooding, major beach erosion, tropical-storm-force winds and locally heavy rainfall."

Now is the time to secure any loose objects and stay away from beaches or low-lying areas that are prone to flooding, and make sure hurricane kits are well stocked with water, food and fresh batteries.

N​ASA is also keeping a close eye on the storm. The Artemis 1 mission is scheduled for liftoff on Monday, but the rocket is already on the launch pad. There are currently no plans to roll it back indoors, but the launch has been pushed back until at least Nov. 16.

A​ SpaceX Falcon 9 launch scheduled for Tuesday has been pushed to no earlier than Saturday.

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