FT. LAUDERDALE – Broward County Emergency Operations Center has been elevated from a monitoring level to a Level II activation at 7:00 a.m. Monday, August 18 in response to Tropical Storm Fay. A Level II activation is a partial activation of the Emergency Operations Center which will allow the Broward Emergency Response Team to respond to changing conditions quickly.
Broward County is currently under a Tropical Storm Warning and a flood watch. County government will close today, August 18, at noon, as well as all Courthouse facilities, including the Clerk of Courts, Public Defender’s Office, State Attorney’s Office, and the judiciary. The Property Appraiser’s Office will also close at noon today.
Mass Transit will remain operational today and this evening. A decision will be made later today concerning the overnight transit operations.
A decision concerning the opening of shelters for mass care and special needs will be made after the 11:00 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Preparations are currently underway so that emergency personnel can respond quickly if conditions worsen. Those residents living in mobile homes and in low-lying areas that are prone to flooding should pay close attention to announcements concerning sheltering later today.
Shelters for the homeless will open later today. Pickup locations for transportation will be announced early this afternoon.
Normal operations continue for Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Cruise and airline passengers should check with their cruise line or airline for the latest information. The Coast Guard will cease new ship arrivals by noon today. All ships in port must sail by 5:00 p.m. today. Truck traffic at Port Everglades will continue until such time that winds reach tropical storm force.
Residents are encouraged to monitor television and radio for emergency announcements and to have their emergency plans in place. Residents should prepare for tropical storm force winds to arrive in Broward County late tonight and early Tuesday morning.
The Broward County Hurricane Hotline will remain operations on a 24-hour basis until the threat from Tropical Storm Fay has passed. Call 3-1-1. The hotline has received more than 2,600 calls since Monday when it activated with 1,000 calls received during the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. period.
