Weather Hurricane Irma safely with these tips

Today is Sunday and South Florida should be feeling the effects of Hurricane Irma. We know what kind of devastation Hurricanes Andrew and Wilma caused to our state, and we are all holding out hope that our preparations have saved lives.

It was predicted that Hurricane Irma could cause severe flooding and wind damage. Our goal now is to assess the damage, remove road debris and get those who evacuated back to their homes safely. Broward staff and community partners are working hard, and will continue as storm recovery begins.

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport and Port Everglades remain closed for Sunday. We will re-evaluate and update the public as we clear the roads and debris.

If you have experienced damages to your home and need to evacuate to a safer place, please call 954-831-4000. We have FEMA and the Red Cross on hand to assist you. Broward County has additional shelter capability for those who may be displaced due to the storm. Shelter locations are posted on our website Broward.org/Hurricane.

Broward County continues to provide a safe haven for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in our community. These individuals are encouraged to contact the Homeless Helpline at 954-563-4357 for assistance.

The Broward County Emergency Hotline is open 24/7 to answer your questions. Call 3-1-1 or 954-831-4000. We can provide transportation to and from the shelters as well as helpful information on post storm recovery.

If you have experienced a power outage call FPL at 800-468-8243 or 800-4-OUTAGE. Please do not walk in standing water; we have experienced downed power lines which may pose a threat to you.

Watch media reports. Broward County news conferences are carried live on www.Broward.org. Follow us on Twitter@ReadyBroward. You also can subscribe to Broward County’s new emergency alert notification system, AlertBroward, or “like” us on Facebook@BrowardEMD.

Barbara Sharief serves as a county commissioner and mayor of Broward.