How Miami-Dade is prepping for Hurricane Milton
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A sandbag distribution in Miami ahead of Hurricane Milton. Photo: Jesus Olarte/Anadolu via Getty Images
As Hurricane Milton threatens the Gulf Coast, local officials are warning Miamians about the potential for heavy rain, flooding and tropical storm-force winds beginning Tuesday night.
The big picture: Milton strengthened "explosively" into a Category 5 storm Monday. It's forecast to batter coastal communities still recovering from deadly hurricane Helene, which hit less than two weeks ago.
- Several Florida counties, including Pinellas and Hillsborough in Tampa Bay have ordered mandatory evacuations, and Interstate 75 has been gridlocked as evacuees head for the Panhandle and South Florida.
Zoom in: Miami remains outside the hurricane cone, but South Florida is under a tropical storm watch and could still see winds of 39-57 mph and major flooding from Tuesday into Thursday, per the National Weather Service.
- Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on Monday announced a voluntary evacuation for mobile-home residents and the medically vulnerable.
- The county is standing up emergency shelters and coordinating with local hospitals.
- Trash pickup, public transportation and other county operations are functioning as normal.
School closings: Miami-Dade public schools will close Wednesday.
- Broward and Palm Beach counties' schools will close Wednesday and Thursday.
State of play: Levine Cava said county departments have been working to clear stormwater drains in low-lying areas, install temporary dams in vulnerable areas, and drain the wastewater system where possible.
- Officials have also lowered canal water levels across Miami-Dade in preparation for the rain.
- The county is increasing staffing at wastewater treatment plants and preparing vacuum trucks to deploy to flooded areas.
- The county's 13 trash and recycling centers extended their hours until 7pm tonight for household trash, bulk items and tree cuttings.
- The county distributed nearly 6,000 sandbags Monday.
What they're saying: Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert said Miamians have a tendency to "get a little complacent because we haven't been hit really hard lately" by hurricanes.
- "We're prepared as a county, but we also have to be prepared as a community," he said.
- Gilbert advised residents to stormproof their homes and check whether their neighbors need help.