By Ericka Miller and Yamine Mezawi

Hurricane Irma was the most intense hurricane observed in the Atlantic since 2007. Starting off as a Tropical storm and later evolving into a catastrophic hurricane, Irma began its reign of terror by damaging less developed countries, including Cuba, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and more as it made it’s way towards the southwest coast of Florida with winds going at 80 mph.

In a press conference regarding the preparation for Hurricane Irma, Governor Rick Scott urged families to evacuate from their households the weekend prior to when the storm was scheduled to hit due to its severity. With a statewide evacuation, tolls were cancelled in order to make fleeing to safety easier.

Under the order of Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of MDPCS, public schools were converted into family friendly shelters for those in need of a place to stay during the storm. Due to the vast amounts of families in search of safety, schools such as Killian High, Southridge High school, and Barbara Goleman reached capacity on the first night alone. The urgency for more shelters became known and as a result additional public schools, such as Miami Lakes Educational Center (MLEC), opened to help the communities in need. As of September 9th, Principal Diaz, of MLEC, announced they were “open to help the community and their pets” and with the assistance of staff, they took care of residents with open arms and breakfast the following day.

#MLEC @GratignyGators Staff serving breakfast to community. #MLECPride #HurricaneIrma pic.twitter.com/QJuzxFjzWL

— MLEC (@MLECJaguars) September 10, 2017

Many principals like Ms. Dias & Ms.Tejeiro are manning shelters, committed to their call of service to the community. Thank you! https://t.co/q10qNoNn9h

— Jose L. Dotres (@jldotres) September 10, 2017

Once Hurricane Irma passed, the people of Miami Lakes took charge, banded together, and began to restore their community. Due to the blockage of roads with fallen trees, a curfew has been issued to Dade-School drivers as of Tuesday, September 12th to drive between the hours of 7am-7pm, which has been enforced by both Manny Cid and Alberto Carvalho. The residents of Miami Lakes were seen facilitating with the removal of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, resulting safer roads thus lifting the ban.

Countywide curfew starting at 7pm. The curfew will be lifted at 7am. Please stay home and off the streets…. https://t.co/XXmKEa7dnT

— Manny Cid (@MayorMannyCid) September 10, 2017

Lydis Berriz, resident of Miami Lakes states “Cleaning up on day 2. Irma may have destroyed our trees, but it didn’t destroy our school spirit” whilst picking up trash and debris as a result of Irma alongside her companions and staff of Sunset Park Elementary. Mayor of Miami Lakes, Manny Cid, helped assess damages in the area and talk to neighbors to provide them with comfort after the storm.

Thanks to all of the hard work made by the residents and members of Miami Lakes, our community has been restored and things may now return to normal as all MDPCS are most likely scheduled to resume on Monday, September 18.

#MiamiLakes is blessed to have amazing volunteers. Thank you all for giving back. #iheartmiamilakes

— Manny Cid (@MayorMannyCid) September 16, 2017

UPDATE! @MDCPS will make a final decision by late Saturday or early Sunday about the opening of schools on Monday. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/SXIDB3gmfa

— Miami-Dade Schools (@MDCPS) September 15, 2017