The cleanup is underway from the flooding rains that soaked eastern Broward County this week. The weather this weekend is expected to be mostly sunny with a stronger chance of rain on Sunday. The risk of additional flooding remains elevated due to ground saturation, including more than 18" inches of rainfall on Wednesday. On April 13th, Mayor Josh Levy declared a local state of emergency due to the flooding rains, this aligns with Broward County and the Governor's emergency declarations.
Residents are advised to continue to avoid any areas of standing water or street flooding.
GARBAGE COLLECTIONS HAVE RESUMED - PLEASE HELP RETRIEVE YOUR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING CARTS
WastePro garbage and recycling collections have resumed per the normal collection schedule as of Friday, April 14th. Due the flooding, many grey garbage carts and blue recycling carts became dislocated, floating down streets and alleyways. City sanitation customers are asked to make their best efforts to locate and restore their garbage carts to their correct location. Many customers have marked carts with their house numbers, this should assist in restoring carts to the correct property. If you have neighbors who are elderly or disabled and you are able to assist them with their carts, please do so. If you cannot locate your cart and need a replacement, please contact Waste Pro at 954.967.4200 or by submitting a request online.
SPECIAL BULK COLLECTIONS MONDAY, APRIL 17 TO WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19
Many in our community will be dealing with the impact of the flood for some time with floodwaters damaging homes and cars. To help make the cleanup a little easier, the City of Hollywood has coordinated with WastePro to set up a special bulk collection for Monday through Wednesday. Waste Pro customers across the City can put out household items such as furniture, mattresses, appliances, and other household goods that may have been damaged by floodwaters for collection. WastePro crews will be out across the City conducting this special bulk pick up. Items should be placed out in the alleyway (if you have one) or on the swale at the front of your property by 7 a.m. on Monday for collection. The 6 cubic yard limit will not apply during this special collection. If you have questions about what can be placed out for bulk collection, additional information is available at FAQs • Hollywood, FL • CivicEngage (hollywoodfl.org)
HOME DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
As assessments of flood damage continue City-wide. You can do your part to assist teams by providing the latest information on the status of your property. By participating in the County's Home Damage Assessment Program, you are helping to quickly identifying areas of devastation in the County.
Simply log on and select one of the photos that best represents the condition of your home for damage level. You can also call 3-1-1 to phone in a damage assessment report.
You will be asked to provide your street address, city and zip code, and the number of the picture that best represents the level of damage.
With this tool, resident reports can provide a critical indication of where major damage has occurred. Please know, these reports do not constitute a request for individual assistance and do not replace the normal grid-by-grid assessments performed by assessment teams.
BUSINESS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has activated a Business Damage Assessment Survey to measure the physical and economic impacts of Wednesday’s flood event impacting local businesses. Survey responses will assist the state in accelerating recovery efforts by providing data on the needs of affected businesses. Hollywood business owners are encouraged to participated in this survey. The sooner this information is gathered, the sooner the state will be able to assess what assistance will be available. Visit www.FloridaDisaster.biz and click on the “Business Damage Assessment Survey Broward County Flooding” to complete the online form.
If you need additional assistance, please call (850) 815-4925 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or email ESF18@EM.MyFlorida.com.
RESIDENT FLOOD DAMAGE REPORTING
In an effort to better understand changing flood patterns, Broward County is gathering photos to document the frequency and extent of flooding from either heavy rainfall or high tides throughout the County. Residents can report flooding and upload photos at Flooding.Broward.org. Residents can also view county-wide flood reports.
RED CROSS EMERGENCY SHELTER
For those impacted by flooding, the American Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter. Workers are prepared to provide warm meals, a safe place to sleep and emotional support for those with immediate, disaster-caused needs. The Red Cross shelter is located at: Holiday Park 1150 G. Martin Drive in Ft. Lauderdale. Please contact the American Red Cross before you go to the shelter to determine availability by calling 561-907-6668 or visiting www.redcross.org/southflorida.
The mission of the Long Term Recovery Coalition of Broward County is to achieve efficient, effective long-term disaster recovery by coordinating and collaboration among its members in order to address the unmet needs of the community. The LTRC also prioritizes communication to its membership throughout the year in an effort to ensure that the entire disaster continuum is part of a coordinated effort in Broward.
CITY OF HOLLYWOOD EVENTS
- The Protege concert slated for the ArtsPark at Young Circle this evening (Sunday) will be held as planned.
- Some City parks and recreational facilities experienced impacts from the flooding and some services or amenities may not be available, please call before you go.
BROWARD COUNTY FACILITIES
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened as of 9 a.m. Friday, April 14th.
- Several County facilities experienced impacts from recent flooding and some services remain unavailable. Call before you go.
POST FLOOD SAFETY TIPS
- Use caution with electrical appliances, electrical cords and outlets if floodwaters have impacted your home.
Residents should not wade in standing flood water, which can contain contaminants. Following a heavy storm, sharp debris and other items from overturned garbage bins could be hidden in the water and cause injury. Standing water also may contain harmful bacteria that could cause infection. Children and pets should not be allowed to play in flood water. - Wear appropriate protective gear such as glove and boots when cleaning up flood debris. Be aware of hazards that may be hidden within debris (glass, boards with nails, power lines, sharp objects).
- Residents should prepare to notify their homeowner’s insurance providers if they experience flood damage and seek their advice on documenting the damage and drying out your home. The same applies for contacting your vehicle insurance provider if you find your vehicle has been damaged.
DRAIN TO PREVENT MOSQUITOES
After heavy rains, pesky mosquitoes can find even more opportunity to breed. Help fight the bite by following some simple tips to reduce mosquito breeding:
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where rainwater has collected.
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances, and other items that aren’t being used. Have them out to your curb or alley by 7:00 a.m. on Monday morning for collection.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and your pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
- Maintain the chemistry in your swimming pool to ensure water balance. Empty plastic pools when not in use.
- Repair broken screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
- Cover your skin when you have to be outside when mosquitoes are active.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-methane-diol, and IR3535 are effective.
The Broward County Mosquito Control Division sprays areas with reported concentrations of mosquitoes, frequently checks known mosquito breeding sites, treats standing water and sprays in areas requested by residents. To request mosquito spraying in your neighborhood, please use the online Mosquito Spray Request Form or call Broward County at 954.765.4062.