Alligator Lighthouse Still Standing, Swim Cancelled

Standing defiantly in the distance off Islamorada is a century-old lighthouse that has survived much more than the wimpy winds of Hurricane Irma. The Alligator Lighthouse was built in 1873, before Miami even existed. The name honors a pirate-fighting schooner that sank there in 1822 and was blown up so…

Irma Heavily Damaged Vizcaya and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Every year, more than a half million people flock to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Hurricane Irma, though, severely damaged both Vizcaya — an early 20th century Italian-style estate built by James Deering — and Fairchild, one of the world’s greatest repositories of tropical…

Eight Dead at Hollywood Nursing Home Left Without Power After Irma

Most of South Florida remains in the dark after Hurricane Irma, and with each day that passes without power, tragedies become more likely. Today, five nursing home patients in Hollywood succumbed to the Florida heat and died early this morning. Broward County officials said three died at the property on 1200…

FPL Expects Power Back by End of Weekend in South Florida

There’s hope. The thousands of people on Florida’s east coast stuck without power should have it restored by this Sunday at the latest, Florida Power & LIght tweeted Tuesday morning. Those on Florida’s west coast, which took a stronger hit from Hurricane Irma, can expect electricity by September 22.

Miami International Airport, Miami Beach Both Reopening Today

For Miami residents, life is far from back to normal after Hurricane Irma. There’s no power — and probably won’t be for days or even weeks. Cell service is spotty. Canned beans have become an every-meal staple. But a few parts of Dade County are getting back to…

Hurricane Irma: What’s Open and Closed

Hurricane Irma may be over, but the cleanup has just begun. If you are in desperate need of supplies, some supermarkets are reopening their doors quickly. However, it’s important to remember that if you don’t have to be on the streets, you should stay home and keep roads clear for…

Miami Digs Out After Hurricane Irma Pummels South Florida

Across South Florida this morning, locals are waking up from whatever fitful few hours of sleep they managed in unbearably hot bedrooms closed in by hurricane shutters and heading outside to see just how badly Irma messed up their neighborhood. The good news is that few buildings seem to have…

Hurricane Irma Live Blog

As Hurricane Irma spins into South Florida on Saturday, New Times staff are scattered across Dade and Broward counties to document the huge storm’s impact on the region. We’ll update this post all day long with the latest on the ground in the path of the biggest Atlantic hurricane on…

Miami’s Wealthy Pay Up to $14K to Escape Irma on Private Jets

As evacuees have desperately tried to fly out of South Florida before Hurricane Irma hits, the airports have been a mess. Stranded passengers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were shuttled to an elementary school that doubles as a shelter, while dozens of flights out of Palm Beach County were canceled…

This Size Comparison Between Irma and Andrew Is Terrifying

Miamians who’ve lived here for more than 25 years have likely spent the week telling war stories about surviving Hurricane Andrew in 1992, reminding themselves how they rode out the storm. But there’s ample evidence Irma is a storm unlike anything South Florida has seen before. For one, it’s projected…

Zoo Miami Moves Animals Indoors Before Hurricane Irma Hits

In 1992, as Hurricane Andrew roared toward Miami, staff at Zoo Miami found an unlikely place to house the zoo’s 30 flamingos: the men’s bathroom. Ron Magill, then the assistant curator, was walking out the door after helping get the birds situated when he turned around to take one last look…