City of Homestead Declares State of Emergency & Announces Sandbag Distributions in Preparation for Hurricane Irma

The City of Homestead declared a State of Emergency Wednesday, September 6, 2017 in response to Hurricane Irma – a major Category 5 storm approaching Florida. By declaring a state of emergency, the City is ensuring ample time, resources, and flexibility to get prepared for this dangerous storm and making sure safety and operations are not hindered or delayed. Emergency Management Staff is currently monitoring the progress of Hurricane Irma. Based on the latest information from the National Weather Service, all city departments and personnel are engaged in basic preparation activities.

“In Homestead, we know it’s always better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best than to not be prepared,” said City of Homestead Emergency Manager Stephen Taylor. “While the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, this state of emergency allows us to act quickly in the best interest of our residents without the burden of bureaucracy.”

Sandbags will be distributed to City of Homestead residents at the Homestead Sports Complex (1601 SE 28th Ave., Homestead, Florida 33035) and Roby George Park (201 SW 11th Ave., Homestead, FL 33030) Wednesday, September 6, 2017 12PM-7PM and Thursday, September 7, 2017 7AM-7PM while supplies last. Proof of residency is required and there is a limit of 10 sandbags per person.

HPS Sanitation is currently following the normal solid waste pickup schedule. There are no planned additional bulky waste pickups outside of the normal solid waste schedule. Residents are reminded not to place items out for pickup if they do not have a regularly scheduled bulky waste pickup. As soon as tropical force winds are in effect all waste pickups will stop to ensure the safety of employees.

At this time there are no planned evacuations or shelter activations. Residents can find information on recommended storm preparations, emergency kit contents, and emergency contact information online at www.cityofhomestead.com/preparedness