The City of Coral Gables Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to monitor Hurricane Irma, currently a Category 5 storm.
Residents are urged to continue monitoring the storm and complete their personal hurricane preparations. Based on its current track, tropical storm force winds (TSFW) from Hurricane Irma re expected to begin impacting South Florida by Friday night.
Here's a list of what you can do to be prepared:
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Gather your hurricane supplies now if you have not already done so. You should have three days worth of supplies, such as non-perishable food and water, for each person in your household.
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Put up your hurricane shutters now.
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Fill your vehicle's gas tank with gasoline. If you fill extra gas containers with gasoline, make sure you store them in a safe area in your home.
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Your home, yard and construction debris should be properly secured. Any objects that hurricane winds could blow about should be tied down or brought indoors (garbage cans, patio furniture, garden tools, toys, etc.).
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We will be providing normal trash, garbage and recycling collection service as long as possible this week. No additional services are planned. Residents are asked to limit what they place out at the curb/swale so that our crews can clear the neighborhoods and rights of way on your scheduled collection day. Please do not place any material out at the curb/swale after your scheduled collection day.
Once a watch or warning has been issued, do not trim vegetation of any kind. Mass cutting places a tremendous burden on the collection and disposal processes and there isn't enough equipment or manpower to handle the additional material before the storm makes landfall. You could put not only yourself at risk, but your neighbors as well. Do not take materials to the curb during a watch or warning period. Collection services may be suspended and disposal facilities closed early to prepare for the storm. All special tree trimming requests are temporarily suspended this week; our crews and contractors are focused on emergency preparation and response.
Please help the City by clearing away any leaves or debris from catch basins or storm drains in your neighborhood in advance of the pending storm.
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Trolley services will cease operations upon the arrival of tropical storm force winds.
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Government offices will be closed until further notice except for essential staff.
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Private businesses are urged to send employees home immediately.
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If
a boil water order is issued, boil the water for one minute before drinking it.
All residents are urged to stay tuned to radio and television broadcasts for further details of the storm movement. City officials are closely monitoring the situation and will issue further advisories as they become necessary.
The EOC continues to monitor Hurricane Irma and will operate at a Level 1, full activation status beginning Friday at 8:00 p.m. Under a Level 1 activation, the EOC is staffed 24 hours a day and all emergency support personnel are required to report to the EOC.