FT. LAUDERDALE – Broward County was fortunate to experience only minimal effects from Tropical Storm Ernesto. Just over two inches of rain have been recorded as of this morning. There are no reports of flooding.
The highest wind gust was recorded at 50 mph at Port Everglades. Power outages have been scattered with fewer than 500 homes without power. Broward remains under a flood watch and a Tropical Storm Warning; however, the Hurricane Watch has been lifted.
The following are updates on service resumptions and other emergency response actions:
• Broward County Transit buses will resume a normal operating schedule today, Wednesday, August 30, beginning at noon. Paratransit services will also resume normal service at noon today.
• Tri-Rail service will resume on Thursday.
• Approximately 680 persons were at the six American Red Cross Shelters (as of 6:00 a.m. this morning). The shelter population is rapidly diminishing as residents return home.
Transportation will be provided for those evacuees that need it.
• The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is open. Travelers should check with their airlines before leaving for the airport.
• The Coast Guard is currently performing inspections at Port Everglades. Port Everglades anticipates resuming normal operations by noon today. Cruise passengers should contact their cruise lines for information.
• No disruptions have been reported on the major roadways. Three traffic signals were damaged; however, these are currently being repaired.
• All Service Refuse and Waste Management Inc. plan to resume garbage and recycling collections tomorrow. There will be no collections today.
• Broward County schools will be in full session tomorrow.
• Broward County government will be open tomorrow with normal business operations.
• The Hurricane Hot Line has responded to more than 14,000 calls. The Hot Line will remain operational until 5:00 p.m. today.
• Early voting will resume at noon tomorrow at all designated locations.
The Emergency Operations Center will scale back operations to a Level II which is a partial activation, effective 9:00 a.m. today. Only emergency response staff that is necessary to finalize operations will remain at the Center.
It is expected that the Emergency Operations Center will return to a monitoring phase by noon today.
Broward County was fortunate not to experience any serious impacts from Tropical Storm Ernesto.
During the response to this threat, the Broward Emergency Response Team was able to successfully implement and test many of the lessons learned from Hurricane Wilma. Florida Power and Light was prepared with crews to respond to anticipated power outages and had additional crews stationed in Sarasota if needed.
The entire response team was prepared and standing by to respond to any public safety threat that may have resulted from Tropical Storm Ernesto.
