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Pompano Beach resident John Spade shot this beautiful time-lapse video of Hurricane Isaac today.

The City of Coral Springs reminds you to be prepared for possible flooding of low lying areas, potential power outages and rip currents.

Emergency Management officials will continue to closely monitor Tropical Storm Isaac throughout the weekend. Stay tuned to local media for any flood or tornado watches and warnings that may be issued by the National Weather Service.

Recommended actions for potential impact from Tropical Storm Isaac include:

Avoid Flood and Beach Dangers

Do not walk through or allow children to play in standing water. Puddles are full of hidden dangers, including snakes and other wildlife, broken glass and other sharp objects.
Do not drive through standing water. Your car engine may stall, potentially causing irreparable damage to the engine. The wake from your car may cause additional flooding in nearby homes and other structures. If you come upon a flooded street, take an alternate route.
Adhere to beach advisories, including flags that indicate rip currents and/or beach closures. Obey all orders and instructions from lifeguards.
If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm. Escape the current by swimming in a direction following the shoreline. When free of the current, swim at an angle – away from the current – toward shore.
To report a branch/tree down or street flooding, please call the Coral Springs Utilities division at 954-345-2210.

Be Patient With Power Outages; Operator Generators Safely

Florida Power & Light knows where power outages are, and crews are dispatched to restore power as quickly as possible. It is not necessary to report a power outage at your home or business.
Report sparking, arcing or downed power lines to 911 or call FPL at 800-4OUTAGE (800-468-8243).
Assume all downed cables and wires are live and stay away.
Keep away from flooded and debris-laden areas because they may be hiding downed lines.
Run portable generators outside your house or building, in a well-ventilated area, and connect appliances or equipment directly to them.
Avoid driving in damaged areas, and in areas where traffic signals may not be working properly. This can interfere with repair and restoration efforts, and jeopardize your safety. Treat intersections where traffic signals are not operating as four-way stops.

Take Protective Actions if Tornados are Sighted

A tornado watch is issued to alert people that conditions are right for tornado development. It does not mean a tornado has been sighted. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or picked up on radar in the area. When a tornado approaches, immediate action may mean the difference between life and death.

Seek shelter below ground level, if possible.
Go into an interior hallway or lower level.
Stay away from glass doors and windows.
Take cover under heavy furniture in the center part of the house.
If outside, move at right angles away from the tornado. If escape is impossible, lie flat in a ditch or low spot.
Leave a mobile home for a safer location.
Report Home Damage to Assist Emergency Responders

In the immediate aftermath of a storm, residents are encouraged to help emergency responders quickly identify areas that have suffered damage and/or flooding by participating in the Broward County Home Damage Assessment Program.

The website for the Home Damage Assessment Program features photos of four homes that have experienced varying levels of damage, including flooding. Residents are urged to familiarize themselves with the Home Damage Assessment tool before the storm so that they can report damage to their home immediately after the storm.

During regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.), you can report by calling the Broward County Call Center at 311 in Broward or 954-831-4000.

Stay Informed

Monitor media for up-to-the-minute information and public safety advisories. There are a number of ways to “stay connected” and receive important information from the Broward County Emergency Operations Center before, during and after an emergency event, including news about hurricane watches and warnings, evacuation orders, recommended protective actions and other related public safety information.

Follow Broward County on Twitter.com @ReadyBroward
Subscribe to Broward County Emergency Updates via email
“Like” us on Facebook.com/BrowardEMD

Visit broward.org/hurricane for more information and an extensive A-Z guide to preparedness
Call the Broward County Call Center at 311 in Broward or 954-831-4000, for answers to all your emergency preparedness questions.

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Sharon Aron Baron

Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.