Miami-Dade Opens 43 Shelters To Meet Need
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami-Dade County has 43 shelters open to accommodate the overwhelming demand as Hurricane Irma approaches.
County officials have released the full list of shelters that will open but urge residents to stay alert and informed. The 43 shelters will have a capacity of 100,000 in total but evacuation orders cover approximately 660,000 people - the largest evacuation in the county's history.
"Please do not go to a shelter until we say it is open," said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
- Amelia Earhart Elem -- 5987 East 7th Ave -- OPEN
- American Senior High -- 18350 NW 67th Ave -- OPEN
- Andover Middle School -- 121 NE 207 Street -- OPEN
- Barbara Goleman Senior High -- 14100 NW 89th Ave -- OPEN
- Bob Graham Education Center -- 15901 NW 79th Ave -- OPEN
- Bowman Ashe Elementary -- 6601 SW 152nd Ave -- OPEN
- Carol City Senior High -- 3301 Miami Gardens Drive -- OPEN
- Central Senior High -- 1781 NW 95th Street -- OPEN
- Coral Park Senior High -- 8865 SW 16th Street -- OPEN
- Country Club Middle School -- 18305 NW 75th Place -- OPEN
- Darwin Fuchs (Sunshine) Pavilion -- 10901 Coral Way -- AT CAPACITY (Pet Friendly)
- Eugenia Thomas Middle -- 5950 NW 114th Ave -- OPEN
- Felix Varela Senior High -- 15255 SW 96th Street -- AT CAPACITY
- G. Holmes Braddock Senior High -- 3601 SW 147th Ave -- OPEN
- Georgia Jones Middle School -- 1331 NW 46th Street -- OPEN
- Hammocks Middle School -- 9889 Hammocks Blvd. -- OPEN (Pet Friendly)
- Hialeah Gardens Middle -- 11690 NW 92 Ave -- OPEN
- Hialeah Gardens Senior -- 11700 Hialeah Gardens Blvd. -- OPEN
- Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High -- 7977 West 12th Ave -- OPEN
- Hialeah Middle School -- 6027 E 7th Ave -- OPEN
- Hialeah Senior High -- 251 East 47th Street -- OPEN
- Highland Oaks Middle -- 2375 NE 203rd Street -- OPEN (Pet Friendly)
- Hubert Sibley Middle -- 255 NW 115th Street -- OPEN
- Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School -- 15735 SW 144th Street -- OPEN
- Lakes Stevens Middle School -- 18484 NW 48th Place -- OPEN
- Linda Lentin Middle -- 14312 NE 2nd Ct -- OPEN
- Miami Edison Senior -- 6161 NW 5th Ct -- OPEN
- Miami Killian Senior High -- 10655 SW 97th Ave -- OPEN
- Miami Lakes Education Center -- 5780 NW 158th Street -- OPEN
- Miami Norland Senior -- 1050 NW 195th Street -- OPEN
- North Miami Beach Senior High -- 1247 NE 167th Street -- OPEN
- North Miami Middle -- 700 NE 137 Street -- OPEN
- North Miami Senior High -- 13110 NE 8th Ave -- AT CAPACITY
- Northwestern Senior High -- 1100 NW 71st Street -- OPEN
- Robert Morgan Senior High -- 18180 SW 122nd Ave -- OPEN
- Ronald Reagan Senior High -- 8600 NW 107th Ave. -- AT CAPACITY
- Ruben Dario Middle -- 350 NW 97th Ave -- OPEN
- Shenandoah Middle -- 1950 SW 19 Street -- OPEN
- South Dade Middle -- 291000 SW 194 Ave -- AT CAPACITY
- South Dade Senior High -- 28401 SW 167th Ave -- AT CAPACITY
- South Miami Senior High -- 6856 SW 53rd Street -- AT CAPACITY
- Terra Environmental Senior High -- 11005 SW 84th Street -- AT CAPACITY
- W.R. Thomas -- 13001 SW 26th Street -- OPEN
Mayor Carlos Gimenez issued mandatory evacuation orders for all Zones A, B and parts of C over life-threatening storm surge expected during the storm. People who live in mobile homes were also ordered to evacuate. Click here for a full map of the evacuation zone or click here to check if your address is under evacuation.
Miami-Dade Transit buses began providing service to shelters at 7 a.m. They will run until 10 p.m.
Numbers & Apps To Know Before, During & After Hurricane Irma
John Delaoch went to the shelter in Tamiami Park. He said it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Oh man, it's just like being at home, sitting out on the balcony," said Deloach as he spent his time people watching.
"People have to follow the rules because if not they won't be safe. During Hurricane Andrew I lived in Kendall, it was disasterous, so it's not going to happen to me again," said Tony Yatim who also sought shelter.
County officials say they expect 70,000 people to take advantage of the shelters.
"It's incredible. They take care of us from the moment we enter, every single person on the staff directed by Alex Munoz, they've taken care of us from the moment we enter to the moment we're inside so I want to say thank you, thank you so very much," said Yatim.
If decide to go to shelter, bring with you what you'll need for three days. Water and food – one gallon per person - any medications and blankets or bedding because there are no beds.
Related: What To Bring To A Hurricane Shelter
The mayor is urging residents to remain calm now, during and after the storm.
"There will be a long road ahead after Sunday," said Gimenez.
When it comes to power outages during and after the storm, there's good news and bad news.
After hurricanes Andrew and Wilma left thousands in Miami-Dade and Broward with electricity for weeks, Florida Power and Light spent more than $3 billion to strengthen their infrastructure.
That normally would be considered good news except when you consider a storm the size of Irma heading our way.
FPL is warning Floridians to be prepared for the lights to go off for a long time, because they will likely have to rebuild the system.
FEMA is stationed in Georgia and Alabama to provide help in the aftermath of the storm.
Governor Rick Scott has ordered all public schools in the state to remain closed at least through Monday.
The U.S. Postal Service has suspended mail delivery in South Florida until the storm passes.
Trash pick up, public transportation and operations at Miami International Airport will stop when winds reach 35 mph.
If you need last-minute supplies, there's still time to go to the supermarket. Most Publix stores will be open to 9 p.m. on Friday then stay closed through the hurricane. Winn-Dixie has not announced its plans yet.
- Click here for ways to prepare yourself for an impending storm from our Hurricane Preps page
- Click here for latest news surrounding hurricanes and the National Hurricane Center
- Click here to see all of the latest maps when a storm forms in the Atlantic
- Click here to download the CBS4 2017 Hurricane Guide (English)
- Click here for Live Weather Blog
- Download the CBS4 Weather App Here
