3:00PM THURSDAY: Following weather reports of the potential for severe storms to directly or indirectly impact South Florida, Miami Hatzalah Coordinators from Aventura, North Miami Beach and the Miami Beach Communities, held an emergency meeting at the new Hatzalah Dispatch Center in North Miami Beach, to discuss Hurricane “Isaac”.

Hatzalah of Miami -Dade is  prepared & ready to deal with any  weather situation which may advance towards South Florida. The National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Warning for the entire State of Florida until Tuesday Morning.  Hatzalah of Miami-Dade  reminds all residents to take all necessary precautions and make all  required preparations  as early as possible.  due to the potential that there may be Power & any other utility outages, Hatzalah reminds you to  make sure you have plenty of water, canned or  dry goods, flashlights (and of course batteries) , and anything else you may need during the storm.  The current intensity of the storm should NOT be underestimated.

Below is a list of Emergency phone numbers to keep handy at all times.  Hatzalah of Miami -Dade stresses that should one have a Medical Emergency, Hatzalah and 911 should be contacted immediately.

Some preparation Tips:

Before the storm hits:

Tie down or bring inside lawn furniture, trash cans, tools and hanging plants that could be projectiles during the storm.

Have a standby generator or alternative source of power available.

Check on neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled.

As the storm approaches:

Stay inside, away from windows and glass doors.
Charge your cellphones and important electronic devices

Make sure to stock up on batteries for flashlights.
Stay off roads. If you are traveling, find safe shelter immediately.

Close all shutters or board up any exposed glass.

If you must travel:

Do not attempt to drive over flooded roads – turn around and go another way. Water moving at two miles per hour can sweep cars off a road or bridge.

Watch for areas where rivers or streams may suddenly rise and flood, such as highway dips, bridges, and low areas.

If you are in your car and water begins to rise rapidly around you, abandon the vehicle immediately.

If you are at home or at work:

Stay at home unless you have been ordered to leave.
Turn refrigerator to maximum cold and open only when necessary.
Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities.
Turn off propane tanks.
Unplug major appliances.
Fill large containers with water.

If winds become strong:

Stay away from windows and doors even if they are covered.
Close all interior doors.
Secure and brace external doors.
If you are in a two or multiple-story house, go to an interior lower-floor room.
Remain indoors during a severe thunder storm.

If you lose electrical service:

Call FPL   first to determine area repair schedules. Turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored. Leave one light on to indicate power has been restored.
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help reduce food spoilage.
If you have space in your refrigerator or freezer, fill plastic containers with water, leaving an inch of space inside each one. This will help keep food cold.

If you need to use a generator:

Before installing a generator, be sure to properly disconnect from your utility electrical service. If possible, have your generator installed by a qualified electrician.
Run generators outside, downwind of structures. Never run a generator indoors. Deadly carbon monoxide gas from the generator’s exhaust can spread throughout enclosed spaces.
Fuel spilled on a hot generator can cause an explosion. If your generator has a detachable fuel tank remove it before refilling. If this is not possible, shut off the generator and let it cool before refilling.
Do not exceed the rated capacity of your generator. Most small, home-use portable generators produce 350 to 12,000 watts of power. Overloading your generator can damage it and appliances connected to it, and may cause a fire. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep children away from generators at all times.

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:

Do not operate generators indoors; the motor emits deadly carbon monoxide gas.
Do not use charcoal to cook indoors. It, too, can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide gas.
Do not use your gas oven to heat your home — prolonged use of an open oven in a closed house can create carbon monoxide gas.
Install a carbon monoxide alarm

311 – (Water outage & downed trees)

Aventura Police Department: (305) 466-8989

North Miami Beach Police Department: (305) 662-7654

Surfside Police Department: (305) 861-4862

Miami-Dade Police Department: (305) 940-9980

Miami Beach Police Department: (305) 579-6640

Miami-Dade Emergency Management: (305) 468-5400

Miami-Dade Evacuation Assistance: (305) 513-7700

Florida Power & Light: (305) 442-8770

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)