Aug 19, 2008 5:57 pm US/Eastern
Bye, Fay! Broward Prepares To Get Back To Normal
5,300 Homes Without Power
311 Information Service Fielded Thousands Of Calls
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
After a day of gusty winds and bands of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Fay, Broward County is planning on returning to normal Wednesday.
During an update from the county's Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday, county Mayor Lois Wexler said the county did not experience any major road damage or debris areas from Fay. There was some minor damage in Hallandale Beach after a waterspout touched down near Southwest 10th Terrace.
Wexler said the most pressing problem as of Tuesday more were power outages; FPL reported that they were working to restore electricity to 53-hundred customers in the northern part of the county. City crews are working to repair 30 traffic lights throughout the county that were not functioning.
After being cooped up at home through the storm, the Herrera family is enjoying a stress-free day stocking up at the store. "I can't stay indoors too long, I get bored and angry," described Steve Herrera. "I asked my mom to take me out just to get out of the house."
Wednesday, all public schools will open and start their new year. "I'm glad. It gives me a chance to get stuff done around the house, to go back to work. That's what I'm looking forward to now," said Steve's mother, Anna.
All Broward County government offices will be open tomorrow. This includes the Clerk of Courts, Public Defender's Office, State Attorney's Office, the judiciary, Property Appraiser's Office and the Supervisor of Election Office. It is expected that the Secretary of State will make a decision concerning the resumption of early voting later today.
Bridges, which had been closed to boat traffic since Monday, were re-opened Tuesday morning. The county-wide bus schedule will also continue as normal. The number to call to check on bus schedules and routes is 954-357-8400. Port Everglades has re-opened to truck traffic and cargo movement as well as ships.
Regular collection of recyclables and garbage will resume in all of Broward County starting Wednesday, August 20. Items not picked up while services were suspended will be collected on the next regularly scheduled collection day.
Residents that have sustained damage to their homes and need assistance should call the Red Cross at 954-797-3800 for assistance. The 3-1-1 hotline will remain operational throughout the day for residents that may need assistance. The hotline has responded to more than 18,500 calls since the hotline became operational at noon on Sunday.
As life returns to normal, you can get the overwhelming feeling of relief that the storm wasn't worse. "It's good we were prepared," says Zevia Gill, "Good they warned people, told people to prepare. It's all you can expect."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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