Hurricane Preparedness:

With hurricanes being as powerful as they are, it is not surprising that upon landfall they cause damage and destruction. Even when the hurricane has yet to make landfall, its effects can be dangerous. However, most of the damage caused to man and nature occur as a hurricane makes landfall.

If your home is on or near the coastline where the hurricane's destructive forces will affect it, pay close attention to what the local government and/or police force is recommending. You should also pay attention to radio and TV stations for the latest information.

If evacuating your home is recommended:

• Heed their warning!!
• Plan ahead where you would go -- it may be beneficial to choose a few places like an out of town friend's home or a designated shelter, etc.
• Take the phone numbers of these places with you.
• Take a road map in case the weather forces you onto unfamiliar roads.
• Do not drive over standing water, as floods may have damaged the roads.

YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW DEEP THE WATER REALLY IS!!!

If you are in the path of a land-falling hurricane, you should prepare a supply kit containing:

• A first aid kit and necessary medications.
• Canned food and an opener, as this food last for long periods of time without needing refrigeration.
• Plenty of water. (The Red Cross recommends three gallons of water per person to last three days.)
• Flashlights, a battery powered radio, and extra batteries.
• Rain gear, sleeping bags, and protective clothing.

More complete information on this subject as well as how to best prepare your house for a hurricane can be gathered by contacting your local Red Cross chapter.

PREPARING FOR THE STORMS
(Hurricane Season June 1 - November 30)

PRUNING TREES
Now is the time to trim your trees and throw out unwanted furniture and debris from your patio. No tree is immune to storm damage, but with proper pruning, you can reduce the risk.

The first step is to have your trees inspected by an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist to see if your trees need pruning, you can find a certified arborist on www.isa-arbor.com .

Do this as soon as possible, because they will be increasingly busy as the hurricane season approaches. It is the responsibility of the tree trimmer to remove all branches and debris from your residence when the job is finished. If you prune the trees yourself, be sure to dispose the debris on your regular trash pick up day. Most importantly do it now, once a storm is on its way, it is too late to prune!

DO'S and DON'TS
DO - Begin trimming branches from your trees and placing them out for pick up during regular trash pickup days during the months of March through May.
DON'T - Trim branches once a hurricane alert had been issued. Branches become dangerous projectiles during a storm and the department might not be able to pick up your area.
DO - Clean and place your garbage container in a protected area when ever possible. Garbage containers can become dangerous projectiles.
DO - Remove dead, diseased and broken branches.
DO - Correct lopsided crowns by pruning long branches back to lateral branches
DO - Prune young trees every three to four years to produce strong branches
DO - Prune while branches are small to encourage healing and avoid the decay often associated with large wounds
DO - Never remove more than 25 percent of live foliage from any tree and no more than 10 percent from mature trees
DO - Pick up loose items outside in the yard
 

DEBRIS REMOVAL AFTER A STORM

Do's
• Check your local media for information regarding when waste collection services will resume. You can also call 3-1-1.
• Do your part. Take small amount of hurricane debris to the City of Miami Mini Dump, located at 1290 NW 20th Street.
• Place large piles of hurricane debris on the right-of-way of your property for collection, away from fences, mailboxes, drains, power lines and low-hanging wires.
• Be patient. Due to the high volume of debris that can result from a hurricane, debris removal can be a lengthy process.

Don'ts
• Do not place hurricane debris on a vacant lot.
• Do not place hurricane debris in front of commercial properties including nurseries and farmland
• Do not place non-hurricane related trash on the right-of-way after a hurricane.
 

GARBAGE, TRASH, AND RECYCLING
The City of Miami Solid Waste Department would like to remind our residents about our garbage, trash and recycle pick up services.

Garbage pick up is twice a week: Mondays and Thursdays if you live north of Flagler St. and Tuesdays and Fridays if you live south of Flagler St.

Remember the green containers must be placed in front of your property on the City right of way and cannot be blocked by any cars.

Your trash and recycling bin will be picked up once a week depending on where you live. Remember, you can only recycle plastic containers, metal, tin and aluminum cans, clear green and brown glass bottles or jars, dry newspapers, and juice and milk containers. The blue bins must be placed within three feet of the roadway.

Pick up service will continue until the threat of a storm has arrived.

The City of Miami encourages residents to use the mini-dump during hurricane preparations.

Citizens are urged to use the Mini Dump facility opened seven days a week from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm to clean their yards from unwanted debris before the hurricane.

Residents that need to get rid of bulky items and trash right away can drop items off at the City’s mini-dump, which is located at 1290 NW 20th St. and is open daily from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. The facility will remain open until otherwise noticed (due to weather conditions).

The following are the guidelines for the use of the Mini Dump facility:

ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS

Household Trash (Bulky Items)
Clean Yard Trash
White Goods (Large Appliances)
Construction or Demolition Debris
Up to 4 Automobile Tires (No Rims)

PROHIBITED MATERIALS

Household Garbage
Hazardous Waste (Chemicals)
Automobile Parts and Batteries
Gas Tanks, Cylinders or Drums
Paint Containers

Trash/bulky items that are left out in the right-of-way can pose a hazard in strong winds and have potential to damage the surrounding area, therefore in time of a hurricane bulky items should not be placed out. In addition, City Ordinance prohibits the placement of trash on the public right-of-way before the next scheduled pick-up date, and violation notices can be issued.

Disposing of Yard Waste
Single family home residents must place garden trash into green garbage bins. Tie tree and shrubbery trash into bundles with material strong enough to support the weight of the bundle, which cannot exceed 50 pounds. Material that is containerized or bundled should be placed prior to the scheduled trash or garbage collection day.

Please call 311 with any questions.