Mandatory evacuation orders began Wednesday for those on Brevard County’s barrier islands.
- SEE BELOW: Brevard County Evacuation Map▼
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Matthew is making its way towards the Florida peninsula.
The Brevard County Emergency Operations Center activated a Level 1 Full Activation Wednesday morning.
They’re ordering the mandatory evacuation for Brevard County’s barrier islands, including low-lying flood-prone areas and those living in mobile and manufactured homes.
Those in Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic and Melbourne Beach began evacuating at 3 p.m.
Matt McHenry's parents live beachside in Indialantic. The Palm Bay resident helped put up shutters on their home, which is less than a mile from the ocean.
"I think it's necessary to put them on, whether it be debris or windows breaking," he said.
The question is, will Matt evacuate from his *mainland* home?
"I don't know if I'm going to leave my house in Palm Bay, or stay there. It really hasn't hit me yet. Just busy and making preparations, and going from there after that," he said.
One important note per Brevard EOC and Florida Highway Patrol -- the bridges and causeways leading beachside will not be closed unless an issue makes it necessary to do so.
We also spoke to lifeguards. They will not be manning stands Thursday as the storm rolls through. Friday will be a decision made later.
The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station has entered Hurricane Condition 3. No evacuations of the base have been ordered yet.
A shipment of hurricane supplies was scheduled to arrive overnight.
“All aircraft have been secured or relocated to other military installations and launch assets based at Patrick AFB and CCAFS are protected from possible storm damage,” according to a 45th Space Wing Facebook post.
There are evacuation orders for Port Canaveral as well, that will impact Jetty Park campers, marinas, and all port businesses and tenants.
No vessel traffic, including cruise and cargo ships will be allowed in the Canaveral harbor until after the storm passes.
On Tuesday, Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach began evacuating patients to Holmes Regional Hospital in Melbourne and Viera Hospital. .
Brevard County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Eastern Florida State College is cancelling classes Thursday through the weekend.
Florida Institute of Technology has suspended all normal operations and canceled all classes for Thursday and Friday.