Hurricane Irma: Hurricane Warning In Effect
Update as of 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept 9
A Hurricane Warning is currently in place for the City of Hollywood. As of 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept 9th a countywide curfew is in effect for Broward County. All residents should remain sheltered indoors throughout the duration of the storm. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions (sustained tropical storm force winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected within the warning area.
Tropical Storm conditions have arrived this evening with hurricane conditions possible in South Florida and the Florida Keys into Sunday. Hurricane Irma is expected to produce 8 to 15 inches of rain in South Florida with up to 20 inches in isolated areas. Maximum sustained winds are currently near 120 mph with higher gusts. Irma is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Irma is forecast to restrengthen once it moves away from Cuba and remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches Florida. On the forecast track, the core of Irma will reach the Florida Keys tomorrow morning. The hurricane is expected to move along or near the southwest coast of Florida tomorrow afternoon.
Storm surge and the tide are forecast to cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water is could reach 2 feet above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge is expected to be accompanied by larger than normal waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
The City of Hollywood continues to closely monitor Hurricane Irma.
Curfew/Evacuations/Shelters
Broward County has ordered a county-wide curfew that is in effect as of 4:00 p.m. Saturday and will remain in effect throughout the duration of the storm. A mandatory evacuation was ordered in Broward County for Zones A and B. In Hollywood this is the barrier island and areas east of US-1. Under a mandatory evacuation, eastbound traffic onto the barrier island at Hollywood Boulevard and at Sheridan Street is restricted.
City Preparations
Emergency Operations Center Activation
The City’s Emergency Operations Center is fully activated. The City has activated its Hurricane Call Center. This call center can be reached by calling: 954.967.4EOC (4362). Broward County is also operating its Hurricane Hotline which is 311 or 954.831.4000.
Residents are advised to remain inside during and after the storm
The City wants to encourage everyone to continue monitoring the storm on various news outlets and check the City’s website www.hollywoodfl.org and twitter feed for updates.