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Last shelter used for Hurricane Irma evacuees closes

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The last shelter used for Hurricane Irma evacuees has closed in Miami-Dade County.

Ronald Book, who oversees the county’s homeless agency, says the final resident of the shelter set up inside the shelter was placed in a long-term apartment on Wednesday.

Book tells the Miami Herald the woman was homeless before the hurricane, which complicated her exit from the shelter.

The Youth Fair complex at Tamiami Park sheltered more than 2,000 from Hurricane Irma, which hit the area on Sept. 10. It was initially the only place people could seek refuge with their pets.

As Irma approached Florida, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez issued evacuation orders covering 600,000 residents. The county opened 43 shelters capable of housing about 100,000 people. Some 32,000 people ended up taking shelter in county facilities.

Republished with permission of the Associated Press.

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