Sep 5, 2008 12:44 pm US/Eastern
Before A Storm: Are You In An Evacuation Zone?
Click Here For Complete Storm Information
Click Here For Complete Storm Prep Information.
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
As Hurricane Ike continues to move in the general direction of South Florida, residents should be in a planning, not panic stage and reviewing their hurricane plans. That includes those who live in an evacuation zone.
While no evacuations have been ordered, it's important to know whether or not you live in an evacuation zone and if you do, where will you, your family and your pets go, if and when you're ordered to leave ahead of a storm.
Here are some things to remember: EVACUATION ZONES: Areas near the coastline that have a high risk of flooding from the storm surge, which is the leading cause of death in hurricanes.
MOBILE HOMES: All mobile home residents are evacuated in all hurricanes.
HIGH-RISES: Tall buildings are subjected to higher winds and stronger forces than single-family homes.
Residents of high-rises in an evacuation zone MUST evacuate, and residents of high-rises outside of the evacuation zone should not stay on high floors.
Evacuation Assistance For The Elderly & Handicapped:
South Florida has a large population of people with special needs. These are people who are frail, elderly, or handicapped, and will be in need of special assistance in the event of a hurricane. You MUST register with your county's Emergency Management Office at their Special Needs Registry NOW in order to ensure that you will be able to go to a Special Needs Evacuation Center, if you have no other options for riding out the storm. The county may also be able to help you with transportation.
Miami-Dade County Emergency Evacuation Assistance (305) 513-7700
Broward County Special Needs Registry (954) 537-2888
Monroe County Special Needs Registry (305) 292-4591
Palm Beach County Emergency Management (561) 712-6400
Red Cross evacuation centers are intended for those people who must leave their homes and have absolutely no where else to take shelter from a hurricane. If you must go to an evacuation center, be prepared for group living and crowded conditions.
In Miami-Dade, there are three evacuation zones known as Zone A (Red), Zone B (Yellow), Zone C (Green).
Click Here to find out whether you live in any of these evacuation zones.
In Broward County, there are two evacuation plans.
EVACUATION PLAN A - for Hurricane Category 1 or 2
Storm surge is 4-7 feet above sea level with winds from 74-110 miles per hour.
All mobile home residents, residents beside tidal bodies of water and in low-lying areas, and residents east of the Intracoastal Waterway should evacuate.
EVACUATION PLAN B - for Hurricane 3 or higher
Storm surge is 7-11 feet above sea level with winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.
In addition to those required to evacuate under Plan A, all residents east of U.S. 1 (Federal Highway) should evacuate.
Click Here to find out more on evacuations in Broward County.
Monroe County has a more complex evacuation plan.
Click here for complete information for evacuation information in the Florida Keys.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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