Hurricane Preparation In times of emergencies, the City of Coral Gables Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated and ready to handle any situation to protect your life and property. Last year, the City of Coral Gables faced the threat of Hurricane Irma and acted proactively and efficiently before, during and after the storm.

The morning after the storm, rescue recon teams began clearing blocked roadways. After road passage was secured, super-sized trucks began immediately to collect and transport full loads of storm debris to three staging areas. In just five weeks after the storm, Coral Gables had collected more than 330,000 cubic yards of debris, the equivalent of the work done in 1.5 years of trash collection. No injuries were reported during this process. Throughout the recovering efforts, Coral Gables Police provided visible omnipresence throughout the entire community to ensure your safety.

Depending on the intensity of the hurricane and how close it comes to Coral Gables, the response and recovery time may vary from days to weeks to months. We ask for your patience during this time as the City will be working non-stop until all services return to normal. A hurricane is an extremely disruptive event not only to you but to all City employees who will be working around the clock at maximum capacity.

Residents share the responsibility to be prepared for any storm headed our way during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30.

So, are you ready for hurricane season this year? This special section explains what actions you can take to ensure your safety, how to keep connected to important notifications, what to do after the storm passes, how to help your community recover faster, and who to call for assistance. Here’s what to do:

BEFORE A STORM:• You must be ready to be on your own for the first 72

hours. During this time, City crews will be very busy trying to clear primary roads and restore order.

• Don’t wait until the last minute to have your emergency supply list including non-perishable food, bottled water, first-aid kit, medicines, flashlights and extra batteries, portable battery-operated radio, baby food and diapers, and enough supplies to last for at least three days. Fill up your vehicle’s gas tank to avoid long lines at the pump and if you have extra gas containers, store them in a safe area.

• Anticipate the loss of power. Turn your freezer and refrigerator to their coldest setting about six hours before the storm hits to keep your food from spoiling. Freeze ice packs and prepare coolers to store food and keep fresh for a longer time. Put small water bottles in the freezer and used them as ice packs.

• Sign up in advance to receive the City’s free emergency notifications, including e-News (www.coralgables.com), Facebook (facebook.com/cityofcoralgables), Twitter (@citycoralgables), In-telligent app (in-telligent.com) or Code Red (www.coralgables.com/PublicSafety). For daily updates, visit our webpage at www.coralgables.com.

• Know your Storm Surge and Evacuation Zones and make plans in advance in case you have to evacuate from your home. Have an emergency plan for your pet if you live in an evacuation zone.

• If you need evacuation assistance and sheltering or would like to receive a wellness call after a disaster, you must register in advance to Miami-Dade County’s Emergency & Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP) by calling 311. Do not wait until an evacuation order is issued.

SPECIAL CORAL GABLESHURRICANE GUIDE

Everything You Need to Know Before, During, and After the Storm Pull-Out Section to Keep With You

When a Hurricane Warning is issued:• Secure your home with hurricane shutters. Any objects

in your yard that hurricane winds could blow out should be tied down or brought indoors.

• Do no place any material out at the curb/swale. Once a Hurricane Watch or Warning is issued, do not trim vegetation of any kind.

• Seek shelter with a friend or relative if you live in a mandatory evacuation zone. As a last resort, find an available public shelter near you.

DURING A STORM:• Stay indoors and away from windows. Do not venture

out as it is not safe to be outdoors until the storm passes and the “all clear” is given.

• If you lose power, use your battery-operated radio to listen to the City’s emergency notifications on WLRN 91.3 FM.

• Stay calm. The City’s EOC will be monitoring the passing of the storm and will prioritize any calls for emergencies.

AFTER A STORM:Always Safety First

• Remember to unplug appliances such as stoves and ovens when the power goes out to avoid the potential for accidental fires.

• Candles are not a safe alternative for lighting. Use flashlights or battery powered lanterns.

• Generators are a dangerous source of carbon monoxide. Never use a generator inside a home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.

• When refueling generators, keep in mind the engine must shut off and allowed time to cool off.

• Avoid standing water and down power lines.

• Stop at traffic lights: When they are out it means it’s a four-way stop.

Help Us Help You• If a storm hits our area, the City’s top priority will be the

collection of household garbage. Hurricane debris and other services such as recycling or bulk trash pickup may be suspended during the initial weeks of storm recovery.

• To assist in the cleanup efforts, do not place household garbage out until 6 p.m. the night before your collection day. Secure garbage in plastic bags or garbage bins, and make it accessible and visible from the street.

• This is very important! Keep household garbage separate from tree debris and other vegetative material. If you don’t, this will result in delayed service or no pickup.

• Do not include broken furniture, discards or household refuse in vegetation piles. Do not place any debris materials in the vicinity of storm drains to prevent any flooding caused by rains.

• Do not place debris piles in a manner that blocks the travel lanes of the road or the sidewalk.

• If your landscape service is assisting in cutting and clearing on your property, limbs and branches must be cut to 4’ to 6’ in lengths so they can be picked up by our collection equipment.

• To help save a tree that has fallen over, the most important things to do is to water the tree and protect it from further damage.

Help Your Neighbors in Need!During this time of potential and unexpected risks, we want to make sure everyone is safe, especially the most vulnerable population. Being without power or food for many days can hit older residents or those with disabilities particularly hard. Reach out to your elderly neighbors, check up on their welfare and confirm they have the basic necessities to survive. Ensure they are not suffering from heat exhaustion. Share the same concern if your neighbor has a chronic illness or disability. Let us know immediately if they need assistance by calling 305-442-1600 for non-emergencies, or 911 for any emergencies.

When feasible, the Adult Activity Center or the War Memorial Youth Center may open their doors during the day to welcome seniors without electricity who may be looking for a cool place to stay until power is restored. Please monitor our announcements for further notifications.

City Emergency FAQs

Which number can I call if I have a non-emergency question?

Call the non-emergency hotline at 305-460-5401 to speak to someone. For pre-recorded messages call 305-800-NEWS.

How does the City prioritize the 911 calls for emergency services?

Immediately after a storm, the City receives a large number of 911 calls for emergencies. Calls are prioritized as follows: Priority 1 for life threatening injuries and fires posing danger to a large number

of people; Priority 2 for all other potentially life threatening incidents; and Priority 3 for fires in structures reported as having been evacuated, serious injuries and/or illness.

How can I get notifications from the City if my power is out?

As part of your emergency supplies, we recommend that you get a portable battery-operated radio to listen to the city’s emergency notifications if you don’t have access to news via the internet, television, social media or a smart phone. Listen to our radio partner WLRN 91.3 FM for regular announcements.

How do I know if I live on an evacuation zone and where should I go?

Miami-Dade County will draft the boundaries for evacuation zones as the hurricane approaches and a more defined path is established. For more information on evacuation zones check the county’s website at www.miamidade.gov, check their online Storm Surge Simulator webpage or call 311.

Are there any evacuation shelters within the City of Coral Gables?

Miami-Dade County coordinates with Miami-Dade County Public Schools the opening of Hurricane Evacuation Center sites. There are no evacuation centers in Coral Gables. Please monitor our announcements to find out which evacuation centers are open nearby, and only go to them as a last resort. Evacuation centers are not designed for comfort and not all accept pets.

How do I know if there is a curfew order in Coral Gables?

The City of Coral Gables may issue a curfew order as necessary, which prevents any person to enter our city during curfew hours except upon authorization of the police department. Please monitor our emergency notifications for any curfew order announcements. During curfew hours, residents are asked to stay indoors. Only police, fire or governmental staff are allowed to be outdoors. A county-wide curfew order may also be issued by Miami-Dade County.

What can I do to prevent illegal dumping of trash and debris in my neighborhood?

If you witness any illegal dumping in your neighborhood, please report it immediately to the Code Enforcement hotline at 305-441-5777. Photos of the vehicle tag, along with photos showing the vehicle near the illegal dumping, are helpful.

When will City facilities be open to the public?

In preparation for a hurricane, most City facilities are shuttered, including City Hall. Non-essential services

will be closed to the public and will reopen as soon as possible. Please monitor our announcements to find out when facilities reopen and regular services are restored.

Can I park my vehicle in the City’s Municipal Garages before a storm arrives?

Yes, but only if you show proper identification as a Coral Gables resident or as an existing parking permit holder with the City. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis and until space is available. The City of Coral Gables will notify when vehicles can be parked temporarily for free. You may park in the following municipal parking garages after a Hurricane Warning is issued: 245 Andalusia Avenue, 220 Aragon Avenue, 345 Andalusia Avenue, or 51 Aragon Avenue. Vehicles can only remain parked up to 48 hours after the storm. If left unattended beyond this time parking violations may be issued. Note that parking in the city’s garages is offered at the owner’s own risk. This arrangement does not include parking in privately-run garages.

Will the Coral Gables Trolley service be available?

The Coral Gables Trolley service will continue its normal operations until sustained winds reach a maximum of 40 miles per hour. At that time, operations will cease for safety precautions.

WHO TO CONTACT

• Coral Gables Hotline: 305-460-5401 (English and Spanish) Pre-recorded messages: 305-800-NEWS

• Emergencies: 911; Non-emergencies: 305-442-1600

• Trash pickup: 305-460-5346 or 305-460-5000

• To report a damaged parking sign: parking@coralgables.com

• To report illegal dumping of trash: 305-441-5777

• Miami-Dade County: 311 www.miamidade.gov/hurricane

• Price Gouging: 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (966-7226)

• Florida Power & Light: 1-800-4OUTAGE (688243) www.fplmaps.com

• FPL Power Tracker: www.fpl.com/powertracker

• American Red Cross: 305-644-1200 www.redcross.org/fl/miami

• FEMA: 1800-621-FEMA (3362), www.fema.gov

• Disaster Assistance: www.disasterassistance.gov

• National Weather Service: www.weather.gov/

• Contractor’s license verification: www.myfloridalicense.com

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H O W T O F I N D U S

• Coral Gables Hotline: 305-460-5401 Pre-recorded emergency info: 305-800-NEWS

• e-News: Every two weeks, find out via email what’s happening in the City of Coral Gables and how your local government is working for you. To sign up, visit CoralGables.com

• Facebook: Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/CityofCoralGables

• Twitter: Follow us at Twitter.com/citycoralgables

• YouTube: Subscribe at YouTube.com/CoralGablesTv

• Instagram: Follow us at Instagram.com/CityofCoralGables

• Coral Gables Television: Tune in to Emmy-winning television with Channel 77 on Comcast or Channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse. Watch us on line at CoralGables.com/cgtv

• Sunday Ads in The Miami Herald: Check out our full-page ads published every Sunday in the Miami Herald.

• Tune in to WLRN Radio 91.3 FM. Listen to the City’s latest emergency updates.

• Nextdoor City of Coral Gables Community www.nextdoor.com

Emergency Information• Code Red: As a subscriber, you’ll receive critical

alerts via phone, text or email in the event of emergency situations when a life threatening event impacts the community. To subscribe visit CoralGables.com/PublicSafety

• City Mobile App: The City of Coral Gables has a mobile app that is capable of sending emergency alerts and notifications to subscribers via smartphones. Download it at CoralGables.com/CityApp

Sign up for Community Alerts The City of Coral Gables is partnering with In-telligent to provide real-time community alerts to inform citizens of what’s going on around them in times of emergencies.

Download the free app today! www.In-telligent.com

This is how I would like to receive information from the City during emergencies (Check all that apply):¨ e-News ¨ Facebook ¨ Twitter ¨ YouTube ¨ CGTV ¨ City website¨ Miami Herald Sunday ads ¨ WLRN News 91.3 FM ¨ In-Telligent

¨ Yes! I am an elderly resident, or with special needs, living in Coral Gables and would like to receive a wellness check from the City after a storm.

Name: _______________________ Address: _____________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________ Email: _______________________________________________________

Mail this information to: City of Coral Gables, Public Affairs, 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134.

SPECIAL CORAL GABLESHURRICANE GUIDE