[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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Hurricane Irma Local Statement Advisory Number 37
National Weather Service Miami FL  AL112017
535 AM EDT Fri Sep 8 2017

This product covers SOUTH FLORIDA

**MAJOR HURRICANE IRMA ON THE WAY TO SOUTH FLORIDA THIS WEEKEND**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for
      Coastal Broward, Coastal Collier, Coastal Miami-Dade, Coastal
      Palm Beach, Far South Miami-Dade, Inland Collier, Inland
      Miami-Dade, Mainland Monroe, and Metro Miami-Dade
    - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Glades, Hendry, Inland
      Broward, Inland Palm Beach, Metro Broward, and Metro Palm Beach

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 490 miles east-southeast of Miami FL
    - 21.7N 73.8W
    - Storm Intensity 155 mph
    - Movement West-northwest or 285 degrees at 16 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Powerful Hurricane Irma continues moving west northwest as it
approaches the southeastern Bahamas early this morning. Irma will
directly impact South Florida this weekend and into early Monday. The
primary concerns for South Florida at this time are the potential for
destructive winds and life-threatening storm surge. The main window of
concern for Hurricane Irma impacts is early Saturday morning into
Monday.

Additional concerns exist for flooding rains, isolated tornadoes,
significant beach erosion and surf, coastal flooding, and life-
threatening rip currents.

Hurricane Irma is a serious threat to South Florida and a potentially
deadly situation. Residence and visitors must now implement their
emergency safety plans. Preparations to protect life and property
should be completed by this evening.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible devastating
impacts across South Florida. Potential impacts include:
    - Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof
      and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage
      greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations
      may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
    - Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
      roadway signs blown over.
    - Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
      or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access
      routes impassable.
    - Widespread power and communications outages.

* SURGE:
Protect against life-threatening surge having possible devastating
impacts across Coastal Miami-Dade, Coastal Collier, and Mainland
Miami-Dade counties. Potential impacts in this area include:
    - Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly
      accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
      buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded
      from considerable floating debris. Locations may be
      uninhabitable for an extended period.
    - Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or
      severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become
      stressed.
    - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
    - Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
      Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
      onshore and stranded.

Also, protect against life-threatening surge having possible
significant to extensive impacts across the immediate coasts of Broward
and Palm Beach counties.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across the Miami metropolitan area. Potential
impacts include:
    - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
    - Ditches and canals may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple
      places. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.
    - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
      communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
      away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
      Streets, parking lots and underpasses become submerged. Driving
      conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with
      some weakened or washed out.

Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible
significant impacts across the remainder of South Florida.

* TORNADOES:
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across South Florida. Potential impacts include:
    - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
      of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
      and communications disruptions.
    - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, mobile
      homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and
      branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving
      vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:
* EVACUATIONS:

Broward County: Mandatory evacuation ordered for areas east of
Federal Highway, barrier islands, low-lying areas, and mobile homes.

Collier County: Mandatory evacuations of mobile homes, Goodland,
Everglades City, and Chokoloskee starting at 1 PM Friday.

Miami-Dade County: Mandatory evacuation of mobile homes, evacuation
zone A, zone B, portions of zone C, and barrier islands which
include Bal Harbour, Bay Harbour Islands, Golden Beach, Indian Creek
Village, Miami Beach, North Bay Village, Sunny Isles Beach, and
Surfside.

Palm Beach County: Mandatory evacuation of zones A and B, as well as
mobile homes and flood-prone areas. Voluntary evacuation of zone C.
Effective at 10 AM Friday.

For further information, contact 311 for Miami-Dade and Broward counties
and 211 across the rest of South Florida.

If evacuating away from the area or relocating
to a nearby shelter, leave early before weather conditions become
hazardous.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Check-in with your emergency points of contact among family, friends,
and workmates. Inform them of your status and well-being. Let them
know how you intend to ride out the storm and when you plan to
check-in again.

Keep cell phones well charged and handy. Also, cell phone chargers
for automobiles can be helpful after the storm. Locate your chargers
and keep them with your cell phone.

In emergencies it is best to remain calm. Stay informed and focused
on the situation at hand. Exercise patience with those you encounter.
Be a good neighbor and help others.

If relocating to a nearby shelter or to the home of a family member
or friend, drive with extra caution, especially on secondary roads.
Remember, many bridges and causeways will be closed once higher winds
arrive. Also, if you encounter water covering the road, seek an
alternate route. Always obey official road signs for closures and
detours.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Miami FL around 1130 AM EDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

$$
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