The City of Hollywood is closely monitoring Hurricane Matthew and is encouraging residents to prepare for this storm system. Hurricane Matthew, is currently a strong Category 3 Hurricane.
As of the 11 am Advisory Hurricane Matthew is still a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph with higher gusts. Matthew is expected to remain at category 3 or stronger while it moves through the Bahamas and approaches the east coast of Florida. It is located southeast of Miami and it moving north at 12 mph. This motion is expected to continue during the next 24 to 48 hours. On this track, Matthew will be moving across the Bahamas through Thursday, and is expected to be very near the east coast of Florida by Thursday evening. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible, but Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through Friday.
Residents are urged to continue monitoring the storm and use this time to complete all hurricane preparations. Based on its current track, winds from Hurricane Matthew are expected to begin impacting South Florida by early Thursday morning.
-All residents and business owners should check their disaster kits, review their hurricane plans and remain informed.
-Make sure your emergency equipment, such as hurricane shutters and battery-powered radios, is in good working order.
-Ensure that you have enough emergency supplies, such as non-perishable food, water and medicine, for each person in your home to last for at least three days. This includes your pets.
-Find out if you live in an evacuation zone. If you do, plan in advance where you will stay, how you will get there, and what supplies you will take. Also give yourself ample time to get to a safe area. Hollywood evacuation zone maps are available on the City website, www.hollywoodfl.org/hurricane.
-Ensure that arrangements are made for any family members with special needs who may need to be evacuated.
-Take steps to properly secure your home and outdoor items such as patio furniture, potted plants, grills, etc.
-Secure your gray garbage and blue recyclables in a safe, sheltered location so that they do not pose a hazard during a storm. The City’s solid waste and recycling contractor, Waste Pro, will continue its regular collection schedule until further notice.
If your solid/commingled waste or recyclables collection date has passed this week, you should secure these items in a safe, sheltered location. The City will not be doing any special collections of bulky waste or yard waste. Additionally, the City is not providing or distributing sand bags.
City of Hollywood personnel are taking the following precautionary steps:
-Maintaining regular contact with the Broward County Emergency Operations Center and National Weather Service for storm updates.
-Ensuring that primary and auxiliary water pumps located throughout the City are working properly.
-Clearing storm drains. If you see a clogged storm drain, please clear it or contact the City at 954.967.4455 to report it.
-Preparing high profile and waterborne vehicles for emergency use.
-Readying barricades for deployment on flooded/impassable streets (if necessary).
-Preparing City facilities for Hurricane force winds.
-Preparing to fully staff the City's Emergency Operation Center
The City has rescheduled 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.
