October 4, 2017  | Visit our website
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Coral Gables: Ready Before, During and After Hurricane Irma

Days before the arrival of Hurricane Irma, the City of Coral Gables' Emergency Operations Center was fully activated to deal with the impending arrival of this storm. Thankfully, Coral Gables was prepared. With your cooperation, Coral Gables was ready before the arrival of the storm, protected your safety during the storm, and is now working diligently to recover from what Hurricane Irma left behind. 
We're Moving Mountains

The City of Coral Gables continues to push forward to collect debris from all neighborhoods, with more than 80 debris collection trucks (some as large as 100 cubic yards) working daily, collecting and transporting full truckloads to our three debris staging area, all per FEMA guidelines. During this "first pass" for debris removal, city crews are collecting as much debris as possible without stopping to cut very large branches or tree stumps. In the first 17 days, the city has picked up and processed 140,000 cubic yards of debris. To get a sense of volumes, a full-size pickup truck holds about 2 cubic yards.
The City will meet its original goal of picking up about 170,000 cubic yards of debris left by Hurricane Irma by the end of this weekend. 


Crews are bypassing debris piles that have plastic bags, junk, broken furniture, or non-vegetative materials placed in debris piles. However, there are things within the piles we can't see:  A piece of steel was placed within one of the debris piles that we collected yesterday. This caused our chipping equipment to malfunction, and could have caused severe injuries to one of our workers. This is why it's so important to NOT mix the debris piles with other materials. I f you want your debris piles to be collected, only put landscape/vegetative material in debris piles - No plastic bags or non-landscape material, or furniture of any kind, may be placed in debris piles. Please don't placed plastic bags filled with leaves on the debris piles. If your landscape service is assisting in cutting and clearing on your property, limbs and branches must be cut to 4'-6' lengths so they can be picked up by collection equipment. Don't take our word for it; see it with your own eyes.  Watch the video.
cutting branches
We're Cutting Hanging Branches 

Specialty crews are also cutting hanging or leaning branches from trees and placing them in piles for collection. We have not forgotten about them, as they will be collected on the "second pass" to be done citywide, after we retrieve the initial debris from swales and neighborhoods. We ask for your patience. 
trucks picking up debris
About Garbage, Recycling & Bulk Trash Pick Up 

Garbage and recycling have resumed to regular collection schedules. Please separate your garbage and recycling separate from the debris piles, in a location that is visible and accessible so that we can collect as fast as possible. We recognize our residents still have large amounts of garbage and recycling so we ask for your cooperation and patience in case we arrive later than usual.
 
Bulk Trash pickup is still suspended until further notice. Please DO NOT place non-vegetative junk or trash out such as broken furniture on the swales until further notice.  This will only create an additional nuisance in your neighborhood. We appreciate your cooperation. 
fallen tree
Taking Care of Our Trees 

What can residents do to help save a City tree that has fallen over? Two things: watering a fallen tree and protecting it from further damage are the most important things to do to help save a tree. We have put together a list of recommendations that you can follow to take care of your private trees damaged from Hurricane Irma.  Read more...
damaged tree
Following FEMA Guidelines

The City debris collection operation began on Saturday, September 16, after the City's rescue recon teams were able to clear our major roads for passage, attended to emergency public safety situations, and the city returned to normal operations.  It is important to understand that debris removal is considered emergency work that is reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), if cleanup operations and their costs are well documented and follow their eligibility criteria. For example, the City of Coral Gables spent almost $10 million for Hurricane Katrina's debris removal and $12 million for Hurricane Wilma. Thanks to compliance by the City, FEMA reimbursed 100% for these costs caused by these two previous hurricanes, thus preventing a burden on the City's financial outlook. 
Around Town
Giralda Plaza
Giralda Plaza Comes Alive on October 13

Businesses are back to normal in the City Beautiful and there's a great celebration we don't want you to miss: The grand opening of Giralda Plaza is now taking place on Friday, October 13, 7-10 p.m. on the promenade plaza between Ponce de Leon Blvd. and Galiano St. Be there to kick off the momentous celebration with live music, a ribbon-cutting, and a special performance. Read more...
Fink Studio Art exhibition
Gallery Night at the H. George Fink Studio


This Friday night, as part of the monthly Gallery Night, we invite you to view Art at the Fink, a showing of architectural drawings by UM students documenting the details of the H. George Fink Studio, now property of the City of Coral Gables. Visit the studio at 2506 Ponce de Leon Blvd., between 6-10 p.m. Read more... 


event series
Wizard of Oz will be shown Thursday at 7 p.m.
Downtown Events to Entertainment at McBride Plaza

A series of events begin this week through April as part of the City of Coral Gables' Downtown Event Series held at The Plaza at 150 Miracle Mile, courtesy of the McBride Plaza. Mommy Boot Camps are held on Mondays from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Music on the Mile will be held the second Tuesday of the Month from 6-8 p.m. in partnership with the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, Wellness Wednesdays presents yoga and Zumba classes from 6-7 p.m., and Movies on the Mile will show classic films every first Thursday of the Month from 7-9 p.m. To view a complete schedule, click here
Gables Greenways
Film Victoria _ Abdul
Gables Greenways Open House
Give us your feedback about bicycling choices for everyone. Wednesday, October 18, 6 p.m.
Coral Gables Library, 3443 Segovia St.
Victoria & Abdul
Through October 12
Coral Gables Art Cinema
260 Aragon Avenue
Quick Links
Miracle Mile & Giralda Ave Streetscape Update
To view weekly updates on the construction work, traffic impact and other relevant information, click here.
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