Weakened Tropical Depression Fred could hit Florida over the weekend possibly as a storm carrying heavy rains that would cause flooding. The south of the state is under alert and the authorities began to take precautionary measures.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a tropical storm watch for the Keys and parts of southern Florida on Thursday afternoon.
“Fred is forecast to regain tropical storm strength as it approaches the Keys and South Florida,” the NHC predicted, adding that the tropical system has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km / h). ).
Miami Mayor Francis Suárez said at a press conference that the Emergency Operations Center has been partially activated to monitor Fred’s development that its “intensity is expected to increase in the next few days and to transform again into a tropical storm”.
“But there is still a lot of uncertainty about the kind of impact it would have on South Florida. So far, everything seems to indicate that we will only receive heavy rains and we are expecting, perhaps, floods in low-lying areas, ”he said.
The Miami Department of Public Works has already activated the suction pumps and after a review it was determined that “they are working correctly”. There will also be teams of workers ready to jump into action Friday night in case floods or downed trees are reported.
Sandbags will be distributed on Friday starting at 12 pm at Grapeland Park located at 1550 NW 37th Ave, Miami FL 33125 and at Legion Park at 6447 NE 7th Ave, Miami FL 33138.
Agencies
–
