Fort Lauderdale: City Updates Following Hurricane Irma

By Jessi Minneci

The following updates pertain to the most recent information, as of Monday, regarding the city of Fort Lauderdale. 

City officials, emergency authorities, and first repsonders are working diligently to restore the city to complete safety as quickly as possible. Here's what you need to know: 

  • Access to the Barrier Islands
  • Fort Lauderdale police are allowing access to the Barrier Island with: 
    • Proper identification (such as a driver's license) and 
    • A valid reason for entry (such as being a resident, business owner, employee) 
  • Some areas may have limited access due to ongoing road clearing operations. 

Traffic safety advisories

  • Residents are asked to stay off the roads so that road clearing, clean up and recovery activities can be done as quickly and efficiently as possible
  • According to authorities, driving conditions are dangerous due to: 
    • inoperable traffic lights
    • Downed trees
    • Debris and power lines in roadways  
  • Please stay off streets and roadways
    • IF diriving, treat all intersections with inoperable traffic lights as four-way stops.  
      • Failure to stop will result in a fine.
  • Rapid Impact Assessment: the City of Fort Lauderdale is conducting road and structural assessments to gauge damage caused by the storm 
    • Once the assessments are complete, contractors will be mobilized to move debris to the side of the road to make them passable.  
  • Neighbors are asked to wait to place residential hurricane debris out for collection until advised so that we can expedite road clearing 

Home and personal safety

  • Trash, yard waste, recycling collection and bulk trash pick up are suspended until further notice. 
  • Avoid standing water: do not walk, play or drive in it  
    • It is dangerous and may contain electrical currents, contamination or other health and safety hazards.
  • Call the City of Fort Lauderdale 24-Hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000 to report flooding
  • Avoid driving through flooded streets; turn around and find another way 
  • In addition to being a threat to life safety, the salt water can lead to both short and long term damage to your vehicle
  • Follow posted road closure and detour signs

Fort Lauderdale beaches

  • Fort Lauderdale Beach remains closed until the roads are cleared and deemed safe
  • No lifeguards on Duty to protect Fort Lauderdale Beach 
    • Neighbors should continue to stay off the beach and out of the water 

Town-wide facilities

  • City Hall is closed for normal operations until further notice
  • Parks and recreation community centers are closed until further notice
  • After school programs and outdoor events and activities are suspended until further notice
  • All city special events are suspended until further notice
  • Broward County Schools are closed until further notice

Transportation

The following transportation facilities and services remain closed until further notice: 

  • U.S. Customs & Border Protection Facility at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) 
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport 
  • Port Everglades 
  • Broward County Transit bus service 
  • Paratransit Sun Trolley 
  • Riverwalk Water Trolley service

Stay in touch

The City of Fort Lauderdale offers numerous ways to stay informed before, during and after a storm:

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