Hurricane Irma Recovery Status Updates

Miami and South Florida Travel Advisories

Hurricane Irma has come and gone leaving a path of destruction on its wake throughout South Florida. As it moves north and dissipates, our communities are focusing their efforts on the clearing and recovery process.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed, and here in Miami we are fully aware and certainly thankful that we were spared from the full extent of Hurricane Irma's devastation. Our hearts go out to all affected, we are keeping everyone in our prayers as we begin the process of recovery.

Post Hurricane Irma Update and Advisories
Thursday September 14, 2017

Cruise Status Report and Caribbean Ports of Call

The following update has been provided by Vacations To Go, the world's largest seller of cruises, including Caribbean cruises:

"The Caribbean is the world's most popular region for cruises and Florida is home to the three busiest cruise ports in the world (Port of Miami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades), so Hurricane Irma's impact on the cruise industry has been as enormous as the storm itself. Here we explain what we know so far.

First, Hurricane Irma caused widespread destruction to a string of Caribbean islands, including numerous cruise destinations.

The hugely popular port of St. Thomas, USVI, was devastated. Power is still out, food is running low and the airport was destroyed. Nearby St. John was hit equally hard but somehow St. Croix was spared significant damage.

The British Virgin Islands suffered massive damage. I've seen unofficial reports that up to 90% of houses, businesses and boats were destroyed.

Up to 70% of the homes in the Dutch territory of St. Maarten have been severely damaged or destroyed and there is also severe damage on the French side of the island, St. Martin.

Also hard hit was the tiny island of Barbuda, where Irma first made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 185 mph. An estimated 95% of the island's structures were damaged and the island's prime minister described the scene as "total carnage".

Scheduled port calls to these destinations have already been canceled on numerous sailings and this will likely roll out to other ships and dates. Some cruise ships will continue to call solely to deliver food and supplies.

All of these islands depend heavily on tourism, and the sooner they can reopen their shops, restaurants and resorts, the faster they will recover. Right now, they are in desperate need of food, water, medicine and clothing. Complete recovery is likely to take years.

In addition, numerous islands sustained significant damage but their tourist infrastructure emerged intact and they are--or will soon be--open for business. Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Nevis, St. Barts, Anguilla, Antigua, Haiti, St. Kitts, the Turks and Caicos and Cuba fall in this category..

Fortunately, Irma missed some islands completely. Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and The Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago are among those that were not impacted at all. Cruise ports in Mexico and Central America were also not affected.

After ravaging the Caribbean, Irma hit the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 mph, leaving behind extensive damage in the 113-mile-long chain of islands. FEMA has reported that about 90% of houses in the Florida Keys were damaged and 25% were destroyed. Port calls at Key West have been canceled. I

rma made its second U.S. landfall at Marco Island, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico along Florida's southwest coast.

Irma continued north along Florida's west coast, bringing high winds, heavy rain and storm surge to both coasts of Florida as well as Georgia and South Carolina. Nearly 15 million homes and businesses in the southeastern U.S. lost power and 6 million are still in the dark.

Throughout Hurricane Irma's short but lethal life, cruise lines kept their ships well away from the storm to ensure the safety of passengers and crew and to provide as enjoyable a cruise experience as possible.

As Irma bore down on Florida, the headquarters of the world's largest cruise lines--Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line--and many smaller ones, were closed and employees evacuated.

Royal Caribbean opened the Enchantment of the Seas to 2,700 Florida-based employees and families in need of shelter; the ship sailed out to calm, safe seas to wait out the storm.

Florida's ports were closed. Some cruises were extended, at no additional charge to passengers, while others were canceled, delayed or had their itineraries altered.

As soon as damage reports came trickling in, several cruise lines deployed ships to battered Caribbean islands, to deliver relief supplies and assist in evacuation efforts.

Royal Caribbean International sent the Adventure of the Seas and the Majesty of the Seas to St. Maarten and St. Thomas to deliver supplies and to transport evacuees to safety. The Empress of the Seas stands ready to assist in relief efforts in Key West once the impact of the storm is known.

Norwegian Cruise Line dispatched the Norwegian Sky to St. Thomas to bring supplies and assist in humanitarian efforts. The current plan is to use the vessel to evacuate 2,000 people to Miami.

Carnival Cruise Line is working with officials in Caribbean islands to coordinate the delivery of supplies as part of scheduled port calls on both an immediate and long-term basis."

Post Hurricane Irma Update and Advisories
Wednesday September 13, 2017

MIAMI BEACH: Residents, Miami Beach will be open starting at 8 AM. Come on home! For security reasons, a valid resident ID is required for entry. Be aware of possible fallen power lines, most of the city is still without power. Fallen trees may be blocking some roadways. Read More

Free parking in Miami Beach public garages will be extended until Monday, September 18th, in order to allow people who are traveling time to return home

FLORIDA KEYS: There is no change to the re-entry status of Keys residents. Currently only emergency personnel — medical, electric and water utilities, and communications personnel — are allowed in. Upper Keys residents and business owners are also allowed in. Check points have been established at Florida City and at MM 73 have been established. Non-authorized travelers will be turned back. Follow Monroe County News

#MIA MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: MIA is scheduled to operate about 30 percent of its usual number of flights today, and will see that percentage increase daily until it reaches full operations - possibly by this weekend. For latest travel advisories #iflyMIA on twitter.

#FLL FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD AIRPORT: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport has reopened. Passengers are advised to call their airlines for updates.

RETURNING EVACUEES: People that evacuated and are rushing home now should check with their local communities and fl511.com — the state's source for real-time traffic conditions — before getting on the road.

And realize you might have trouble finding places to gas up. As before Irma, Florida faces a fuel shortage. Useful App: https://gasbuddy.com/

CRUISE PASSENGERS:
Carnival: All sailings scheduled to depart as of September 14, will depart as scheduled. Latest update

More info and Full list of Cruises affected by Hurricane Irma and status.

OPEN AND CLOSED:

Malls that have opened (Not all retailers within the malls may be resuming full operations):
Sawgrass Mills
Dadeland Mall
Miami International Mall
Aventura Mall
Pemroke Lakes Mall
Galleria Mall
Dolphin Mall

Grocery Stores and Restaurants Open To Date

Miami New Times Restaurants and Bars NOW Open UPDATED

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, LIBRARIES: In Miami Dade and Broward are closed until further notice.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
Miami Beach Trolley service is fully operational. See routes
Broward County Transit has resumed operations on a 7:00 am - 7:00 pm schedule unter futher notice. Latest News
Tri-Rail trains and shuttle buses are closed until further notice. Latest News
Miami-Dade Transit Metrobus and Metrorail running on limited schedule. See here. Metromover has ceased operations until further notice

CURFEWS:

Miami-Dade County: The Miami-Dade countywide curfew has been lifted but municipal curfews are in effect
Miami-Dade Municipal Curfews:
Coral Gables: 11 p.m. - 6:30 a.m.
Doral: midnight - 7 a.m.
Florida City: 9 p.m. - 7 a.m. (until further notice)
Golden Beach: 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Miami Beach: 11 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Miami Gardens: 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.
North Miami: 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Sunny Isles Beach: 8 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Broward County: County-wide Curfew lifted
Coral Springs: 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. 10:00 pm - 6:00 am
Miramar: midnight - 7:00 am

Florida Keys: Dusk until dawn

BEACHES AND PARKS: Broward Beaches are closed. Due to the potential effects on water quality, the Florida Department of Health has issued a precautionary beach advisory for all public beaches in Miami Dade County. At this time, swimming is not recommended.
Some Broward Parks are reopening. See which ones here.

Miami Dade Emergency Status Update

Broward Emergency Status Update

Post Hurricane Irma Update and Advisories
Tuesday September 12, 2017

#MIA MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Passenger flights to resume at Miami International Airport on a limited basis on Tuesday, September 12. For latest travel advisories #iflyMIA on twitter.

#FLL FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD AIRPORT: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport will reopen at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12. Passengers are advised to call their airlines for updates.

RETURNING EVACUEES: People that evacuated and are rushing home now should check with their local communities and fl511.com — the state's source for real-time traffic conditions — before getting on the road.

And realize you might have trouble finding places to gas up. As before Irma, Florida faces a fuel shortage.

CRUISE PASSENGERS: Cruise lines plan to be back in operation in Florida beginning Tuesday as soon as ports reopen.

Carnival Cruise Line plans to operate three sailings from Miami beginning Tuesday and one from Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades.

Guests on any cruises scheduled to depart Tuesday from South Florida have the option to cancel if they wish (and receive future cruise credit)

More info and Full list of Cruises affected by Hurricane Irma and status.

MIAMI BEACH:

Free parking in Miami Beach public garages will be extended until Monday, September 18th, in order to allow people who are traveling time to return home

FLORIDA KEYS: Essential personnel only! All the bridges from Homestead to MM 16 are safe for travel. Currently, only Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees are allowed back into the Keys. This includes all law enforcement emergency responders, utility workers. General public including residents still NOT allowed. Read more

OPEN AND CLOSED: Aventura Mall and Sawgrass Mills reopen Tuesday at 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., Dadeland Mall and Miami International Mall until 5:00 pm Read More

Grocery Stores and Restaurants Open To Date

Miami New Times Restaurants and Bars NOW Open UPDATED

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, LIBRARIES: In Miami Dade and Broward are closed until further notice.
FIU to open tomorrow to faculty and staff who need to come in in order to resume classes on Monday.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
Miami Beach Trolley service will be operational at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday
Broward County bus and paratransit services are closed until further notice.
Tri-Rail trains and shuttle buses are closed until further notice.
Miami-Dade Transit has ceased operations until further notice - no Metrobus, Metrorail or Metromover service.

CURFEWS:
Broward County: Curfew Lifted (except for Coral Springs)
Coral Springs: 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Miami-Dade County: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. – Until Further Notice
Florida Keys: Dusk until dawn

BEACHES: Broward Beaches are closed. Lummus Park and South Pointe Park in South Beach are open.
In addition, these Miami Beach Parks are open:

• Maurice Gibb
• SRYC
• Palm Island
• NSPYC
• Crespi
• Fisher

Limited Time hot offers and half-price tickets

$15 Sightseeing Boat Cruise for one, $29 for two

90-minute Bayride tour of Biscayne Bay, departs from Bayside, use within 120 days (Reg $26)

More details at Groupon

$20 Everglades Eco-Adventure Airboat Tour

$20 for 1, $39 for 2, Eco-Adventure and Airboat Tour at Everglades Safari Park (Reg. $25)

More details at Groupon

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