by James McClister

Hurricane Matthew today made landfall in Haiti with sustained winds nearing 150 mph. It may soon hit South Florida as well. Be prepared, and prepare your clients.

The path of Hurricane Matthew, which first rode the northern crest of South America westward before cutting north and heading towards Haiti and Cuba, is “eerily similar” to that of Hurricane Hazel, which devastated the Caribbean and the eastern coast in 1954, according to a USA Today report. In its day, Hazel caused severe flooding, $308 million (1954 dollars, which would be about $3.1 billion today) in damage, and killed an estimated 600 to 1,200 people. No one can say whether Matthew will take a less or more destructive path, but indications are currently that it will come even closer to Miami than Hazel.

Because of the threat, Miami-Dade County is urging citizens to monitor local radio or television, or dial 311, to listen for evacuation orders and know which centers are open. For your convenience and the convenience of your clients, we’ve provided a full list of the County’s evacuation centers below.