Here is how Miami-Dade and Broward are preparing for Eta’s heavy storm rain, winds
Tropical Storm Eta is on track to soak South Florida as it moves through the Florida Keys early next week. In light of this, Miami-Dade and Broward counties are making several emergency preparations.
Condition Zulu set for PortMiami, Port of Key West, Port Everglades
The U.S. Coast Guard put PortMiami, Port Everglades and Port of Key West at Condition Zulu due to the expectation of sustained gale force winds from Tropical Storm Eta, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Under Port condition Zulu, no vessels are allowed into the port without permission from the Coast Guard captain of the port. Also, all vessel movements are prohibited along with all ship-to-shore operations.
The Coast Guard has advised to stay off the water, evacuate if necessary, be cautious of coastal flooding and be prepared.
Parks, recreation, beaches
Miami-Dade is closing parks, beaches and open spaces. City of Miami is closing marinas, parks and beaches at 5 p.m. Sunday until further notice.
Bulky waste pickup
The Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management has announced the suspension of bulky waste scheduling until further notice. No new bulky waste pickups will be scheduled as of 5 p.m. Saturday.
DSWM will continue to collect previously scheduled bulky waste piles while weather conditions allow. The 13 Trash and Recycling Centers will remain open for use by service area customers during their normal hours Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., as long as weather conditions permit.
City of Miami says expect delays to the garbage and bulk waste pickup on Monday.
Evacuation shelter to open
Miami-Dade will open an evacuation center at 2 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds at 10901 Coral Way, Gate 2 for residents living in mobile homes and low-lying areas, or for those who need refuge, Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced Friday night after declaring a state of emergency.
People are advised to bring necessities, including blankets, pillows, medicine and required facial coverings if they opt for the shelter. As Miami-Dade leads the state in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, masks are required.
“This could be a significant weather event,” Gimenez said at a Saturday morning conference on Zoom. “We may experience extensive rainfall and gusty wind conditions as early as tonight through Tuesday, with sustained tropical storm-force winds starting Sunday,” Gimenez said. “Since the ground is already saturated with rain, flooding is a major concern, especially in low lying areas.”
The mayor said bus service would be available to residents who need transportation to the shelter and that they could call 311 for information on where to pick up a bus ride, which would begin after 2 p.m.
As of Saturday morning, Eta is moving across the Caribbean Sea and regained tropical storm strength in the National Hurricane Center’s 10 a.m. advisory. Eta could grow big enough that South Florida could start feeling tropical storm force winds and rain by Sunday.
County COVID testing sites closed
Gimenez also announced that novel coronavirus testing sites will be closed on Saturday and mobile testing vans will close on Sunday due to Eta. “The county COVID sites will be closed until the storm passes and conditions are safe to reopen,” he said.
The sites are expected to resume Tuesday.
This closing applies to the testing sites run and facilitated by Miami-Dade County, like those at Marlins Park, Tropical Park, Homestead Air Reserve Park and Amelia Earhart Park.
The City of Miami’s Mobile Testing Unit and its Mobile Testing Unit Call Center, which runs at-home testing, will be closed Monday and reopen Tuesday, the city said.
Transportation and drawbridges
Miami-Dade announced Sunday morning that all public transportation services, including evacuation transportation, would stop at 2 p.m. Broward said its services would continue on a weekend schedule until “tropical storm force winds force a suspension of service.”
The City of Fort Lauderdale is also cutting off its community shuttle service off at 2 p.m. Sunday for the rest of the day Sunday and throughout Monday.
Tri-Rail is suspending service Sunday and will be down through at least Monday.
The Interstate 595 express lanes will stay in the eastbound, weekend position until Tuesday.
Miami-Dade County is also beginning to lock down all drawbridges on the Miami River and the Intracoastal Waterway eight hours in advance of tropical-storm-force winds. The first bridge to be locked down is the Tamiami Canal Bridge, followed by the 27th Avenue Bridge and all other Miami River bridges.
All bridges run by the U.S. Coast Guard will be locked down by Sunday. Miami-Dade County and FDOT are preparing to begin its lockdown at 6 a.m. Sunday and the county says all mariners must seek safe harbor before that time.
Broward County said FDOT will lockdown all bridges eight hours ahead of when 30 mph winds are expected to hit the county.
Sandbags handed out
Cities across Miami-Dade and Broward counties have also begun advertising when free sandbags will be given out to residents. More information on sandbags can be found here.
Broward County issued a flood watch alert Friday afternoon.
Miramar announced it would hand out sandbags beginning at noon Saturday until 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Multiservice Center at 6700 Miramar Parkway and at Silver Shores Park, 15700 Pembroke Rd.
Residents can call 954-602-4357. There is a limit of six sandbags per household, you need an ID showing proof of Miramar residency and remember to wear a mask and maintain social distancing due to COVID-19.
Apart from distributing sandbags, the City of Miami Beach announced it will be immediately opening all city garages for residents to store their cars in preparation for heavy flooding. Cars may stay in garages for free until Tuesday at 6 p.m. Residents will have to show I.D. or a utility bill affirming a Miami Beach address when they leave the garage.
Public works
The city also said it is deploying temporary generators to a few pump stations and sending pumps to higher risk areas where flooding remediation is not done. Miami Beach is also cleaning out stormwater drains to get rid of obstructions.
In the City of Miami, officials are stationing employees from public works, solid waste and code compliance at fire stations ahead of the storm so that workers can join fire crews in assessing damage immediately after the weather clears up. Crews are also clearing storm drains and deploying portable pumps to flooding hot spots across the city.
This story was originally published November 6, 2020 at 6:27 PM.
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