Disaster Services

Post Storm Guide:

General Guidelines

After the storm has passed and you've confirmed that everyone is okay, it's time to assess the damage and begin the recovery phase. Here are some tips to keep in mind when inspecting your home post-hurricane:

• Before returning home after an evacuation, make sure that the authorities have declared the area safe
• Electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks should be shut off to avoid fire, electrocution or explosions
• If you suspect a gas leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows and leave the house immediately. Then call your gas company. Do not return to the house until you are told it is safe to do so
• Do not drive or walk through standing water. It may be much deeper than you realize and there may be hidden hazards
• Keep manhole covers closed when streets are flooded. Opening manhole covers can alleviate the local flood impact, but it introduces additional water to the sewer system and can cause overflows
• Learn proper safety procedures and operating instructions before operating any gas-powered or electric chainsaw
• When using any power equipment, always wear a safety face shield or eyeglasses and gloves
• Use battery-powered lanterns and flashlights instead of candles
• If you must use candles, make sure you put them in safe holders away from curtains, paper, wood or other flammable items
• Never leave a candle burning when you are out of the room
• Contact your insurance agent. Take pictures of damage. Keep good records of repair and cleaning costs

Electrical Damage

• Your electrical system may have been damaged. If you see frayed wiring or sparks when you restore power, or if there is an odor of something burning but no visible fire, you should immediately shut off the electrical system at the main circuit breaker
• You should consult your utility company about using electrical equipment, including power generators. Be aware that it is against the law and a violation of electrical codes to connect generators to your home's electrical circuits without the approved automatic-interrupt devices. If a generator is online when electrical service is restored, it can become a major fire hazard. In addition, the improper connection of a generator to your home's electrical circuits may endanger line workers helping to restore power in your area
• Replace the electrical outlet and have the system checked by a certified electrician before turning on the circuit breakers and energizing the outlet for use

Water Damage

Following a storm, if flooding is affecting the interior of your property, or if you have broken or leaking pipes, call the City of Miramar Utilities Department at 954-602-HELP to report it.

• Once you have established that no structural, electrical or gas-related hazards exist in your home, dry and disinfect all materials inside the house to prevent the growth of mold and mildew
• Walls, hard-surfaced floors and many other household surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water
• Be particularly careful to thoroughly disinfect surfaces that may come in contact with food, such as countertops, pantry shelves, refrigerators, etc. Areas where small children play should also be carefully cleaned
• Wash all linens and clothing in hot water, or dry clean them. For items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, air dry them in the sun and then spray them thoroughly with a disinfectant
• Steam clean all carpeting
• If there has been a backflow of sewage into the house, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup. Remove and discard contaminated household materials that cannot be disinfected such as wall coverings, cloth, rugs and drywall
• Remove all wet or damaged carpeting and drywall to prevent molding

Home Repair After the Storm

The City of Miramar Building Department and Code Division urges consumers to be cautious and be sure to hire licensed individuals and companies to handle post-hurricane repairs, clean-up, tree removal, etc. Following a disaster, we recognize the urgent need to handle post-hurricane repairs, which may or may not require a building permit. Pursuant to the Florida Building Code (105.2), certain work is exempt from obtaining a permit after the event. Permits shall not be required for the following:

• No permit shall be required for general maintenance or repairs which do not change the Occupancy and the value of which does not exceed fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) in labor and material as determined by the Building Official.
• No permit will be required for maintenance or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) as determined by the Building Official.
• Emergency repairs. Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next working business day to the Building Official.
• Minor repairs. Ordinary minor repairs may be made with the approval of the Building Official without a permit, provided the repair does not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress, or requirements; additionally, ordinary minor repairs shall not include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, water, vent or similar piping, electric wiring systems or mechanical equipment or other work affecting public health or general safety, and such repairs shall not violate any of the provisions of the technical codes.

Repairs That Require a Permit:

• Roof replacements or substantial roof repairs
• Structural repairs (walls, trusses, balconies)
• Electrical service restoration/replacement
• HVAC equipment replacement
• Window/door replacement (non-like-for-like)
• Fence replacement
• Water heater replacement

Repairs That Do Not Require a Permit:

• Temporary tarping of roofs
• Debris removal
• Minor cosmetic repairs (paint, carpet, etc.)
• Fence panel reattachment (no posts)
• Replacing glass in existing approved frames (if no frame damage)

Expedited review categories include:

• Roofs
• Electrical service reconnections
• Water-damage-related HVAC replacements

If your home is damaged and you're hiring a home repair contractor, use this checklist to avoid being a victim of fraud:

• File a claim with your insurance company
• Know your contractor. Call references and beware of scams
• Check complaint history with consumer protection agencies
• Check the license and insurance
• Obtain at least three estimates
• Get promises in writing
• Avoid paying large sums of money up front
• Pay by credit card instead of cash

Post-Storm Permit Application Process

How to apply:

• City of Miramar Citizen Self-Service Portal
• In person at the Building Department lobby:
  2200 Civic Center Place
  Miramar FL 33025
  954-602-3200

Required documents:

• Insurance scope (if applicable)
• Photos of damage
• Contractor license verification
• Permit Application(s) outlining the scope of work and job value.

Additional Information FS 180.