Hurricane Irma Florida: Boca Raton Implements Curfew

BOCA RATON, FL — Hurricane Irma smashed into southern Florida on Sunday morning and Boca Raton has instituted a citywide curfew beginning Sunday night.

The curfew will run from "dusk till dawn," the city said on its Facebook page.

"For your safety and the safety of our community, all citizens should be off the roads and in their homes once it gets dark. Our police department will be enforcing the curfew," the city said. Officials will continue to assess the storm and will later determine when it’s safe to lift the curfew. (For more hurricane news and other Boca Raton information, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Boca Raton Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The city has received reports of downed power lines and trees that are blocking roads, as well as power outages and broken traffic signals, the Facebook post said.

"Although we feel grateful that we were spared the worst of this storm and are thinking about our fellow Floridians, we will still have plenty of damage to assess and clear."

Officials asked that everyones stay inside their homes and remain off the roads once it gets dark. Police will will enforce the curfew, the city said.

"We know you are tired of being hunkered down in your homes, but we ask you to give first responders an opportunity to assess the damage, clear roads and begin recovery efforts before you venture out. FPL has a lot of work to do, and we will work collaboratively to clear trees and roads," the city said.

All city offices and facilities — including parks and beaches — were already closed "until further notice," the city said on its website. No one will be monitoring or updating the website, but officials will provide updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo credit: Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press