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Miami Beach Re-Opens To Residents & Visitors As Mayor Surveys Damage

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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Nearly 100,000 Miami Beach residents who evacuated before Hurricane Irma were allowed to return to the homes Tuesday morning.

Mayor Philip Levine took toured several hotels Tuesday night.

"We had a lot of water like everyone else. Nothing into the lobby and this much water outside we were worried about being flooded like everyone else," explained Laurence Dubey.

That's the story at the Miami Beach Eden Roc Hotel.

The damage assessments came on the day Miami Beach allowed residents and business operators back on the barrier island after ordered to evacuate.

The city officially re-opened to residents, business owners and tourists alike.

"I'm very, very happy and relieved that nothing was broken," said David Trujeo after checking out his place.

The day delay was because several dangerous areas with downed power lines and debris that need to be cleared before it was safe.

Business owners along Ocean Drive said there's a lot of work and clean up that needs to be done.

One restaurant owner, however, was pleasantly surprised to find everything in its place when she returned.

"This is just how we left it. It's perfect. It's great, not even a drop of water came in, so we are very, very grateful," she said.

"There's a lot of tree damage, there's a little bit of building damage but not a whole lot, Miami Beach, Ocean Drive is really a miracle zone," said another owner.

Mayor Levine said the city fared quite well all things considering, there wasn't any major structural damage and their preparations, along with a shift in the storm, prevented any prolonged street flooding.

There are, however, still some problems. Power is out in a lot of areas as are traffic signals.

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

Returning residents should note there is a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

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