Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announces updated status of county services as impacts of Hurricane Ian arrive

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has released an updated list of county service closures, interruptions, and continued essential services as the first effects of Hurricane Ian are felt throughout Miami-Dade. The Category 3 Hurricane Ian is currently moving into the Gulf of Mexico after crossing Cuba, headed toward the west coast of Florida.  

Following the 5 p.m. weather advisory, all of Miami-Dade is now under a tropical storm warning. Beginning tonight the Miami-Dade Emergency Operations Center will activate at a level two, in order to ensure all critical County personnel are deployed and available to respond if needed. 

“Our top concern right now is the safety of our residents and visitors,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Miami-Dade County will avoid direct impact from Hurricane Ian, but we are actively experiencing heavy rain and wind and expect flooding. We continue to remind residents to remain vigilant for updates on the weather conditions, and to stay off the roads if possible as we anticipate possible tropical storm force winds beginning early Wednesday.”  

This morning, during a press conference at the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Mayor Levine Cava announced non-essential county services will be suspended on Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29 including: 

1. Animal Services department: Pet adoption services will be suspended.  

2. Communications and Customer Experience department: The three 311 Field Services Offices located at the North Dade Justice Center, South Dade Justice Center and the Permitting and Inspection Center will be closed. The 311 Contact Center and 311Direct online services remain open with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Wednesday, Sept. 28.
 
3. Corrections and Rehabilitation department: Regular visitation hours are suspended.  

4. Cultural Arts Centers: Box offices will be closed. Regularly scheduled after school programming has also been suspended.  

5. Elections department: Offices will be closed. 

6. Finance department: Tax collector offices will be closed. 

7. Public Library System: All county libraries will be closed. 

8. Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces department: County parks and marinas will be closed. Boat owners should communicate directly with their marinas for additional information regarding their vessels.  

9. Regulatory and Economic Resources: All in-person RER services have been suspended. Applicants are encouraged to check the status of their applications through online portals and virtual self-service.  

10. Solid Waste department: Solid waste will suspend scheduled recycling and mosquito control services on Wednesday, September 28.  

11. Curbside recycling services will not be provided to residents in the City of South Miami, the City of Miami Beach and the City of Sweetwater on Wednesday.  A make-up day will be provided on Saturday, October 1st. Curbside recycling customers in these cities should place their recycling carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on Saturday.

12. Mosquito Control inspection and treatment services will not be provided on Wednesday, September 28.    

13. All other Solid Waste Management services will be provided as normal and disposal facilities will remain open on Wednesday, Sept. 28. If there are sustained tropical storm force winds of 35 mph, the department will suspend services and/or close facilities.

The following essential services remain open until further notice: 

14. Miami-Dade Aviation department: Miami International Airport is open and will maintain normal operations. Flights may be delayed or canceled as the situation develops. Passengers are strongly encouraged to check their flight status regularly before leaving to the airport. 

15. Department of Transportation and Public Works: Miami-Dade Transit continues to offer regularly scheduled Metrobus, Metromover, Metrorail, and STS service. 

14. Metrobus, Metromover, Metrorail, and STS services will only cease to operate upon the arrival of sustained tropical storm force winds of 39 mph. Transit riders should regularly monitor service schedules, and sign up for rider alerts here. 

15. PortMiami: Beginning today at 8 p.m. EST, PortMiami will be elevated to Condition Yankee, one of four U.S. Coast Guard readiness designations given to seaports in preparation for severe weather. Under a Yankee classification, both PortMiami’s bascule and rail bridge will remain open.  

Residents and visitors are urged to stay off the roads if possible. High winds and flooding are expected, creating potentially dangerous hazards. 

Residents can also help minimize impacts to our wastewater system by keeping manhole covers closed, and decreasing water use in the morning and evening – which are the heaviest usage times – during heavy rain.  

Flooding is the nation's most common natural disaster. Due to these expected weather conditions, we urge our community to be ready and exercise a high level of caution. 

• Prepare your business and home for flooding no matter where you live, but particularly if you are in a low-lying area, near water, or downstream from a dam. Even a very small stream or dry creek bed can overflow and create flooding.
• It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters: Don't drive or walk around road barriers or through large puddles. Hidden debris may be just under the surface, which could hurt you or disable your car.
• It is vital to know what to do if you are driving and hit a flooded road: More than half of the deaths from flooding each year occur in vehicles. Turn around, don’t drown. 
• Find additional flood safety tips here. Further updates will be made available as conditions develop. The county’s official 2022 hurricane guide can be found at miamidade.gov/hurricane. Information and developments regarding Hurricane Ian and additional service interruptions can be found at miamidade.gov/ian.