Hurricane Matthew is now approaching the east coast of Florida. The City of Hollywood remains under a Hurricane Warning with tropical storm force winds possible throughout the evening.
As of 5:00 p.m., the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located about 100 miles East-Southeast of West Palm Beach. The hurricane is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue tonight with a turn toward the north-northwest early Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph with higher gusts. Matthew is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely while the hurricane moves toward the coast of Florida. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.
Matthew is expected to produce total rainfall amounts for coastal eastern Florida of 5 to 10 inches and up to 12 inches in isolated areas.
CURRENT IMPACTS:
Traffic Signal Outage- Sheridan Street and I-95. When traffic signals are out, motorists should treat the intersection as a 4 way stop and proceed only when it is safe to do so.
Water Main Break in the alley between Polk and Tyler Streets in the 1000 block. Crews are responding to deploy barricades and assess the 8 inch pipe for repairs.
STAY SAFE:
• Do not go outside during the storm. Conditions may calm as the Hurricane continues up the coast. Do not go outside to assess any damage to your home until the storm has completely passed, conditions are safe and the "all clear" has been given.
• Stay tuned to local media for storm updates.
• If the power goes out, use battery-powered flashlights or lamps to illuminate your home. DO NOT use a gas-powered lamp or generator inside your home.
As soon as the storm has passed, emergency responders will immediately begin to take action to survey damage on a grid-by-grid basis throughout the city, and coordinate resources for recovery. Residents can help first responders quickly identify areas of devastation by participating in Broward County's Home Damage Assessment Program:
www.broward.org/Hurricane/AtoZ/Pages/DamageAssessmentAfterEvent.aspx
The City of Hollywood continues to monitor the storm and its impacts:
-The City's Emergency Operations Center is under a full activation and all emergency response personnel have reported for duty.
-City Staff are in contact with the Broward Emergency Operations Center and National Weather Service for storm updates.
-Public Utilities has ensured that primary and auxiliary water pumps located throughout the City are working properly.
-All storm drains have been cleared. If you see a clogged storm drain, please take steps to clear it if you are able.
-High profile and waterborne vehicles have been prepared for emergency use.
-Barricades are ready for deployment on flooded/impassable streets (if necessary).
-All City facilities have been prepared for Hurricane force winds.
All City Administrative offices are closed. The City's Community Centers are closed Thursday and Friday. The City has rescheduled several weekend events including Operation Paintbrush. The re-blended paint giveaway originally scheduled for this Saturday has been rescheduled to November 12. The monthly Beach Sweep Clean-up planned for this Saturday as well as the Italian Festival at ArtsPark have both been cancelled.
Hollywood residents and business owners who have a question about government services before, during and after the storm can go to the Hurricane information section of the City's website or call the Broward County Emergency Management Hurricane Hotline at 954.831.4000 or 311.
