Update #3 on Tropical Storm Fay

Dear Residents of Lauderhill,

We have been receiving some updates that I wanted to make you aware of.

Mayor Kaplan


FROM THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL

Broward County is currently under a Tropical Storm Warning and a Flood Watch.

All City Buildings and Parks are currently open for business as usual. Regularly scheduled garbage pick up shall proceed as normal. Please wait until tomorrow morning to put on Tuesdays garbage if weather conditions should change. City buses are running as scheduled as well.

Subsequent weather advisories may dictate changes in services. If anything should change, an additional City Press Release will be sent and posted on the City website at www.lauderhill-fl.gov. Also, please tune into Lauderhill's Radio Station, 1650 AM for City related updates. Residents are encouraged to monitor television and radio for emergency announcements related to County services like Mass Transit, School, Airports and Seaport.

The Broward County Hurricane Hotline will remain in operations on a 24-hour basis until the threat from Tropical Storm Fay has passed. Call 3-1-1 if you have any questions.


FROM BROWARD COUNTY:

Broward County Emergency Operations Center has been elevated from a monitoring level to a Level II activation at 7:00 a.m. Monday, August 18 in response to Tropical Storm Fay. A Level II activation is a partial activation of the Emergency Operations Center which will allow the Broward Emergency Response Team to respond to changing conditions quickly.

Broward County is currently under a Tropical Storm Warning and a Flood Watch. County government will close today, August 18, at noon, as well as all Courthouse facilities, including the Clerk of Courts, Public Defender's Office, State Attorney's Office, and the judiciary. The Property Appraiser's Office will also close at noon today.

Mass Transit will remain operational today and this evening. A decision will be made later today concerning the overnight transit operations.

While we are not currently in the storm cone for a direct hit, we are on the Northeast side of the storm where the heaviest weather is expected. We can likely expect strong winds, heavy rain, gusts of 39-54 miles per hour throughout the next 12-24 hours, as well as the possibility of tornadoes during that time. Due to this and for the safety of our employees, The Broward Alliance, along with County government offices will close today at noon.

Normal operations continue for Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Cruise and airline passengers should check with their cruise line or airline for the latest information. The Coast Guard will cease new ship arrivals by noon today. All ships in port must sail by 5:00 p.m. today. Truck traffic at Port Everglades will continue until such time that winds reach tropical storm force.

The Broward County Hurricane Hotline will remain in operation on a 24-hour basis until the threat from Tropical Storm Fay has passed. To reach the Hotline, call 3-1-1. The hotline has received more than 2,600 calls since Monday when it activated with 1,000 calls received during the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. period.

FURTHER UPDATE FROM BROWARD COUNTY

According to the 11 a.m. Advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Fay has moved slightly further east, creating a stronger possibility for worsening weather in Broward County over the next 12-24 hours. There has been no change in the status of the TROPICAL STORM WARNING, currently in effect. There is expectation for more than 2-4 inches of rain, winds with gusts reaching 39-54 miles per hour, and a strong possibility of tornadoes associated with feeder bands passing through Broward County.

County offices and Broward Schools, Courts, and other Constitutional offices will be closed tomorrow, August 19th, since the effects of this tropical storm will be felt until approximately 6 p.m. tomorrow. Area bridges will be locked down to boat traffic beginning at 6 p.m. this afternoon. Boats should seek safe harbor prior to that time.

The Port and Airport are presently open; we will advise you if there is any change in that regard. The Coast Guard currently has the Port on Level Yankee, which requires ocean going vessels to depart the Port. Landside operations are still open. Passengers are urged to verify flight and cruise information with their carrier. Aviation has advised us that there has not yet been any forecast of sustained winds of over 40 miles per hour, which would be the point at which the airport would consider closing. Other decisions concerning flights and schedules are made by the airlines. We have not yet been notified of any schedule changes into or out of FLL.

Please be certain that you have removed all outdoor furniture and decorations, as well as any debris that can become a projectile in high winds. Again, please take all precautions to assure your safety and well being.