Miami-Dade Mayor: No Evacuations In Place, Prepare For Possible Hit
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami-Dade officials gathered Tuesday afternoon as Hurricane Matthew moves closer to Florida and updated the public on the latest preparations underway ahead of a possible hit.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said there are no orders in place for evacuations, as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. The mayor reiterated they would have a better idea on that matter Wednesday.
He also warned the community about price gouging but had a positive message about preps.
"Let's hope the hurricane doesn't come our way but if it does, Miami-Dade County will be prepared," said Gimenez.
Earlier in the day, Gimenez along with other county leaders asked residents and visitors to prepare for Hurricane Matthew.
"This morning and the message is very simple right now, you should be prepared for the eventuality of a hurricane like we did in June. Have your three days of food, have three days of water," said Gimenez. "It's also a good idea to have gas for your generators and also start them to make sure they are working."
Related: Schools Open Wednesday In Miami-Dade, Broward Amid Hurricane Matthew Preps
The mayor said it's important for everyone to keep tabs on this storm.
"If it goes on an eastern track, the impacts to Miami-Dade County will be less. If it goes on a western track then the impacts will be more severe, but we won't know that until later on today, possibly tomorrow morning," said Gimenez. "So right now the message is be prepared for tropical storm force winds on Thursday."
In anticipation of possible severe weather conditions, the Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) offers the following tips:
- Do not begin any tree pruning or cleanup activities.
- Do not place any materials on the right-of-way for collection.
- Previously scheduled bulky waste piles will be addressed by county trash crews while weather conditions permit.
- Household trash and tree cuttings needing immediate disposal should be taken to the nearest Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center, open daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Gov. Rick Scott met with Monroe County's emergency managers Tuesday morning for a briefing on Matthew. He warned residents to take the storm seriously, adding "we cannot rule out a direct hit." He said heavy rain, spinoff tornadoes, high winds and beach erosion are among the concerns in the state.
The current 'cone of uncertainty' for Hurricane Matthew has the center storm remaining offshore but hugging Florida's coastline as it moves north. That could change depending on a high-pressure system developing off the coast of the Carolinas.
- Click here for ways to prepare yourself for an impending storm from the CBSMiami.com Hurricane Preps page
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The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.