Lots of people are deciding whether to leave their homes or stay, and there's lots of chatter on social media about those decisions.
Fire and public safety officials are trying to deliver a few messages to the public: If you are ordered to evacuate, please do. And if your home is under an evacuation advisory (also called an evacuation warning), it is not an order to evacuate, but an invitation to pack and prepare for possible evacuation orders.
On Friday afternoon, the winds continue to blow from the northwest and both the River Fire and Carmel Fire continue to move mostly to the southeast. But the River Fire is also active on the north, and officials have issued an evacuation advisory (not an order) for a large swath to the west of the fires, stretching along Laureles Grade from Highway 68 to Carmel Valley Road, and encompassing Carmel Valley Village.
There's also an evacuation advisory in effect to the southeast, extending to Carmel Valley Road and Arroyo Seco Road.
The area in yellow is under an evacuation advisory as of 5pm Friday, Aug. 21; the area in red is under evacuation order.
The area in yellow is under an evacuation advisory as of 5pm Friday, Aug. 21; the area in red is under evacuation order.
To view the county's live evacuation map (and zoom in on your address to see if you are affected by advisories or orders) click here.
A public information phone line with information on evacuations and road closures is at (925) 532-5455.
Click here to receive updates via text and/or email, and view the latest evacuation advisories and orders.
Monterey County is operating 24-hour evacuation shelters at two locations: Sherwood Hall (940 N. Main St., Salinas), which had been prepared as an alternative housing site for Covid-19, and at Carmel Middle School (4380 Carmel Valley Road). Proof of residency, such as an ID, utility bill or vehicle registration, is required for service.
The county is also operating evacuation centers open during daytime hours from 8am-8pm with information, water and snacks, and device charging, at the following locations: Monterey Conference Center (1 Portola Plaza) and the King City Library (402 Broadway).
Laguna Seca has been closed as an evacuation shelter, though evacuees with RVs are invited to remain there.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.