Lady Lake Mayor Jim Richards will be leaving his home on the Historic Side of The Villages prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irma.
The Category 5 Hurricane appears to be taking direct aim at Florida and should arrive Sunday in The Villages.
Richards has tied down everything at his manufactured home and on Friday will be covering his windows with plywood.
Then he and his wife and their dog Mabel will be checking into the Microtel Inn & Suites in Lady Lake.
Manufactured homes are particularly vulnerable when hurricanes strike.
Lt. John Longacre with The Villages Public Safety Department said the only section of The Villages that could be subject to an evacuation is the Historic Side, due to the prevalence of manufactured homes.
Lady Lake Commissioner Dan Vincent, a resident of Water Oak, also represents a large number of residents living in manufactured homes.
“We have a lot of old people,” Vincent said. “It’s hard for them to get around.”
The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake will be operating as a special needs shelter during Hurricane Irma. It is pet-friendly shelter.
Here are emergency contacts for the three counties in The Villages.
Lake County Emergency Management – 352-343-9420
Marion County Emergency Management – 352-622-3205
www.marionso.com
Sumter County Emergency Management – 352-569-1660
www.sumtercountyfl.gov
