Hello, I’m Frank Ortis. As the Mayor of Pembroke Pines, I want to assure you that the City Commission and staff have learned from past hurricane seasons and are committed to protecting the people and property of Pembroke Pines. The City of Pembroke Pines has made extensive preparations and we are now equipped to speed our community’s recovery in the event of a damaging storm.

This video will provide you with information as you finalize your plans for contending with a tropical storm or hurricane. Remember, you can’t control nature. You can, however, be prepared.

Meteorologists are expecting another active storm season this year -- with many more tropical systems than we typically saw originating in the Atlantic. Warmer ocean temperatures are fueling strong storms, and experts are warning that we are reaching the peak of a 25-year hurricane cycle that started in 1995. In South Florida, we can expect 10 to 15 more years of active storm seasons.

Planning ahead is the key to being prepared for a dangerous storm. The most important goal is to make sure you and your family are safe. Take the time to get the entire family involved. Everyone, including children, needs to understand the plan before the storm hits. Each family member can be responsible and play an important role.

Decide now where you want to be during a hurricane. If you plan to travel, leave days in advance so you avoid the risk of getting trapped on gridlocked roads. Storms are notorious for changing direction and the last place you want to be at the height of the storm is stuck on the interstate in your car.

Fire Chief John Picarello:

It’s important for everyone to make arrangements before the storm for elderly family members or those with special needs. If your family member relies on electric-powered medical equipment, confirm now which shelters provide back-up emergency power. And make sure that you and your family have a 2-week supply of medications.

Special Needs Shelters are coordinated by Broward County’s Department of Elderly Services. Pre-registration is required. Special areas have been set aside for people with special needs Silver Trail Middle School shelters. Bring supplies for at least three days including food, water, nebulizer and oxygen equipment. Make sure you have a backup battery for ventilators and a backup oxygen cylinder. For assistance, contact the Pembroke Pines Community Services Department.

Special Needs Shelter

Silver Trail Middle School 18300 Sheridan Street, Pembroke Pines

Broward County Department of Elderly Services (954)537-2888
Pembroke Pines Community Services Department (954)450-6888


Although Pembroke Pines is not in a coastal evacuation zone, some residents must make plans to evacuate:
• People who live in low-lying areas should seek shelter elsewhere. A large storm could bring a significant storm surge, causing flooding several miles inland. Heavy rainfall could also cause flooding inland.
• All mobile home residents must evacuate if a storm reaches hurricane status. In addition, mobile home residents may be ordered to evacuate if tropical storm conditions warrant.

In Pembroke Pines, we have five shelters located nearby: Fox Trail Elementary, Falcon Cove Middle, Silver Trail Middle, New Renaissance. Remember that not all shelters will be open during every emergency, so call the Broward County Hotline or monitor news stations.

Fox Trail Elementary School
1250 Nob Hill Rd., Davie

Falcon Cove Middle School
4251 Bonaventure Blvd., Weston

Silver Trail Middle School
18300 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines

New Renaissance Middle School
10701 Miramar Blvd., Miramar

Broward County Hurricane Hotline, 954-831-4000

Residents who plan to evacuate with pets need to make special arrangements. Broward County has a limited-capacity pet-friendly shelter. Located at Millennium Middle School in Tamarac, space is reserved on a first come, first served basis to those living in a designated emergency evacuation zone, which includes all mobile home parks. Pre-registration is required. Contact the Humane Society of Broward County now. They will provide you with specific instructions and a checklist of supplies to bring for your pet.

Humane Society of Broward County
Pet Hurricane Hotline: 954-266-6871

Register at:
2070 Griffin Road
1 block west of I-95
9am – 5 pm Monday through Friday.


Long before the threat of a storm, take steps to protect your property. Confirm what storm damage your home insurance covers and whether you need to add more protection. You’ll want a limit high enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your house. Sometimes policies have special exclusions that homeowners don’t realize are there. And in recent years, policy limits often haven’t kept up with rapidly escalating building costs.

Make a detailed inventory of your possessions. Business and home owners should videotape or photograph your belongings, and make a complete inventory. Copy receipts of big ticket items and keep these records in a safe, dry place off the premises.

Staying at home may be the best alternative – but only if you complete your preparations early and thoroughly. Storm shutters are your first line of defense against flying debris. Research which type of hurricane shutter is right for your home. Ask yourself whether you can install the protection yourself or whether you know someone reliable who will do it for you. Accordion and roll-down shutters are sturdy and easy to operate. Steel or aluminum storm panels are the most inexpensive permanent system and offer excellent protection. With window film or impact resistant glass, check with the manufacturer to be sure the product meets Miami-Dade certification tests. Plywood shutters do not meet South Florida building codes, but provide some protection if installed correctly.

Identify a safe room in your house. A safe room has no windows and will protect you if your house should break apart during a storm. Consider a large interior closet, hallway, bathroom or stairwell.

As we have learned in Pembroke Pines, even small storms can bring prolonged power outages. Consider purchasing a generator. Research the right size for your needs and learn how to use it in advance. A small portable generator can power your refrigerator, television and four lights. A qualified electrician can also connect one directly to your home.

Stock up on basic supplies. You will need to purchase staple foods and canned goods to hold you and your family over for one week. Make sure you have a week’s. A gallon per person per day is a good rule of thumb. Sterilize and fill your bathtub to supplement your supply. Your checklist should also include:

• Medical supplies. You and your family should have a 2 to 4 week supply.
• First aid kit
• Tools
• Flashlight for every family member
• Lantern, with extra batteries or fuel
• Battery operated radio or television, with extra batteries
• Matches
• Charcoal or gas grill
• Hand operated can opener
• Pet food and supplies
• Tarps, rope & duct tape
• Whistle or air horn

Basic Supply Checklist

• Food – 1 week supply at a minimum
• Water – 3 day supply at a minimum
• Prescription medications – 2 -4 week supply
• First aid kit
• Tools
• Flashlight for every family member
• Lantern, with extra batteries or fuel
• Battery operated radio or television, with extra batteries
• Matches
• Charcoal or gas grill
• Hand operated can opener
• Pet food and supplies
• Tarps, rope & duct tape
• Whistle or air horn

When a Hurricane Watch is called, it is time to move into high gear on your storm preparations. Secure your most important legal documents. Fill vehicles with fuel. Make sure that you have the prescriptions medications that your family needs. Protect your electronic devices and copy your most important computer files. Keep a close eye on weather broadcasts.

Pembroke Pines Emergency Managers will mobilize as the storm approaches. The City has a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center at Fire Station 101 and will coordinate response and recovery efforts from there. New communications systems will help speed support to those who need it most.

When the wind picks up, it’s time to get everyone into the strongest inside safe room. Make sure the electricity and gas are off. Stay indoors. And don’t be fooled by the calm of the hurricane’s eye passing over.

Citizens are asked to be stay at home and be patient after the storm.

Police Chief Dan Giustino:

Immediately after the storm, even though the weather has cleared, we ask you to stay off the roads. Emergency personnel and City Public Services personnel will need to clear our streets in order to conduct rescue operations, respond to emergencies and begin clearing debris.

As our experience with past storms taught us, we can expect that basic electrical service will be interrupted. It may take weeks to restore power. Treat downed wires as if they were electrically charged and avoid walking through puddles.
When the power goes out, use extra care with fuel and open flames.

Fire Chief John Picarello:

After a storm, the Pembroke Pines Fire Department will be ready to respond to all types of fire emergencies. But our citizens will have to be especially cautious if we have a prolonged power outage. Please be sure that you use candles and lanterns with care. And take steps before the storm so you know how to use your generator safely.
Our City Commission has moved decisively to ensure that our community recovers quickly from a storm. In the event of a devastating hurricane, the City has established a Disaster Services and Recovery Complex at the Howard C. Forman Human Services campus on University Drive. To ensure your safety and reduce our dependence on outside agencies in the days immediately after a storm, the Forman campus will provide:

• a self-supporting field kitchen that will have the capability of serving 20,000 meals a day. This will be important if neighborhoods are devastated by a Category 3 or above hurricane

The City has also secured service contracts for ice and water, which will distributed at strategic locations. Check the City’s website for these commodity distribution sites.

With a prolonged power outage, protecting our city is critical. The City is installing tanks with the capacity of storing 100,000 gallons of fuel at seven locations. This fuel supply will ensure disaster response vehicles can continue to operate.

Chief Dan Giustino:

In the event of a severe storm, the more than 300 men and women serving in our department will work 24/7 to protect lives and property. We are prepared to mobilize all the law enforcement and security resources available to protect you and your family. (Cut here.)

The City is working with Broward County to ensure public safety on our roads. The Pembroke Pines Police Department will deploy generators and solar powered signals at critical intersections. This year, the roads will be safer due to a backup supply of thousands of stop sign, traffic barricades and safety cones, which will free Police Department personnel to respond to emergencies.

With the power out, our drinking water and wastewater treatment systems will grind to a halt without backup power and fuel. This year, the Public Services Department has purchased 16 new generators to keep these systems running, ensuring that our water supply will be safe and our environment will be free from contaminating spills.
In the weeks after a storm, our citizens and City workers will be working hard to clear debris. Two national contractors are on call to mobilize equipment and workers to help clear the streets and remove vegetative and other debris.

South Florida has just experienced the busiest consecutive years in hurricane history and this pattern is predicted to continue for the next 10 to 20 years. We now know how important it is for City managers to be prepared and ready to speed our community’s recovery in the aftermath. We also know that every individual needs to take these preparations seriously – so that we can work as a team to ensure that everyone, including our children, neighbors, the elderly and those with special needs – stays safe when the next storm arrives.