Hurricane Irma: Miami Beach Best Evacuation Routes

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Miami Beach residents woke up on Thursday to a mandatory evacuation order as Miami-Dade County opened four shelters on Wednesday that can accommodate up to 8,000 people and pets. The county planned to open another four shelters on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, Hurricane Irma was still a dangerous Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 180 miles per hour as of Thursday morning.

"It is one of the strongest and largest storms ever reported in the Atlantic Ocean. South Florida remains in the forecast track for either a direct hit or major storm impacts," Miami Beach officials said on Wednesday night following the evacuation order. "Do not take this lightly. Plan now to keep yourself and your family safe."

All of Miami Beach is likely to be susceptible to flooding with a storm such as Irma. The city suffered major flooding earlier this summer when heavy rains struck unexpectedly.

To assist with the hurricane preparations, the city is opening its parking garages to residents free of charge Residents can use any parking garage in the city with the exception of the Miami Beach City Hall garage.

"For a safer and more comfortable location during the storm, the city recommends residents find shelter with family and friends on the mainland," according to Miami Beach officials. "Taking into consideration the high volume of residents and additional low-lying areas evacuating, traffic congestion is expected."

Watch: Deaths, Destruction Reported As Hurricane Irma Heads Toward Florida

Click here to find a list of evacuation centers.

Best evacuation routes from Miami Beach:

From Collins Avenue you can take one of two roads out of the city.

• Head west on 41 Street to the Julia Tuttle Causeway
• Alternatively, head west on 5 Street to MacArthur Causeway

City Hall will be closed on Thursday and Friday. For a list of cancelled municipal events and programs, click here.

A list of evacuation pick-up sites are listed here. Bus transportation to evacuation shelters on the mainland will be provided by Miami-Dade County. Transit buses will provide transportation to these shelters from 21 different locations and cease operation once Tropical Storm winds arrive. If a resident is not located in close proximity to an evacuation site, they are encouraged to take the Miami Beach trolley or regular public transit to the nearest location. For safety reasons, the City of Miami Beach trolley service will cease operation for safety reasons three hours prior to sustained winds reaching a forecast of 39 mph. Transit services will resume as soon as possible after the hurricane passes.

High-rise buildings may provide a false sense of security, according to Miami-Dade officials, who said that people living in such buildings often feel they will not be affected by flooding.

While city staff prepare the barrier island for the storm, residents are expected to follow expert recommendations from the county to stay safe through the hurricane. It's crucial to not wait until the last minute and make proper plans to get on the road.

"In an effort to prevent projectiles during the storm, staff is sweeping the city and conducting debris removal throughout the streets, as well as strongly discouraging people to not dump in the right-of-way," Miami Beach officials said.

Registered people in special populations, including those who are dependent on electrical equipment for medical needs, are being evacuated to medical facilities by the Special Needs Registry.

Residents who have not yet signed up for the registry are encouraged to call 3-1-1 as soon as possible. The Office of Housing & Community Services is encouraging the city's homeless population to take city buses to local homeless shelters. Once the homeless shelters are filled, the same people will be taken to general population shelters. City staff have also been reaching out to elderly residents to determine if they have any special needs.

After the storm:

"Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach will work together to determine a full or phased re-entry based on initial damages," Miami Beach officials added. "For the safety of our community, Miami Beach police will be monitoring re-entry into the city once the storm passes. Residents must provide a proof of residency with a federal ID and/or utility bill for re-entry."

Employees who work in Miami Beach must provide proof of business ownership or a letter from an employer to re-enter Miami Beach.

"In regards to condominiums and hotel staff, Miami Beach Department of Emergency Management pre-registers representatives from each property," officials explained. "Those property owners or designated representatives are issued hang tags that corresponds to their drivers licenses so they can be allowed back into Miami Beach. This is done so that a limited number of people can re-enter with the sole purpose of damage assessment."

Officials said that engineers and property managers will be expected to provide initial damage assessments.

Photo courtesy city of Miami Beach