FRANKLIN CO., Fla. -- A voluntary evacuation notice has been issued for portions of Franklin County, according to emergency management officials.
The notice has been issued for residents living along the Apalachicola River and campsites starting at the Hickory Landing on Owl Creek and continuing South along Highway 65.
Officials say that the evacuation notice could change from voluntary to mandatory quickly as water begins coming down from the North. The residents living along the Apalachicola River around the city of Apalachicola are not under this notice at this time.
The National Weather Service is anticipating the river level at Blountstown to reach 25 feet by Thursday, and this does not include the water that will be coming from the Chipola River.
Residents are asked to monitor the river levels and begin preparing now for possible flooding. Sand bags are available at the County State Yard off of Bluff Road in Apalachicola. Officials ask that residents only take what they need.
Though the precautionary notice is not mandatory, evacuation is strongly advised by emergency officials.
