Miami-Dade To Begin Evacuations Ahead Of Irma

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports:

As Hurricane Irma threatens South Florida, Broward and Palm Beach County officials are mulling when to open shelters and order evacuations; Miami-Dade County will begin evacuations Wednesday.

Miami-Dade County officials announced that evacuations will begin Wednesday. County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday.

“Because of the strength and intensity of this storm, we need to take action and we need to take action now,” Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said.

Monroe County has issued a mandatory evacuation of all residents, beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday. A tourist evacuation order will be in effect at 7 a.m.

Miami-Dade will start evacuations Wednesday ahead of #HurricaneIrma https://t.co/9Co7UOLWkZ pic.twitter.com/ppPOxKREkX

— Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) September 5, 2017

Hurricane #Irma now a category 5 and it’s a beast. It’s larger than the state of Ohio, if that helps put it in perspective. pic.twitter.com/JtoZNlONeE

— ⚡JD Rudd – News5 (@jdrudd) September 5, 2017

Hurricane Irma becomes the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean https://t.co/XF3B9IOTub pic.twitter.com/Q1ZW60WWim

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) September 5, 2017