Health & Safety Advisories

Parents are advised to take extra care during the show. Last year there were numerous lost children. With the large crowds expected, and being along the water’s edge, a lost child can be very hard to find. If you are taking children, tell them if they get lost to find a police officer, firefighter or lifeguard. Efforts to reunite them with parents or guardians will be coordinated through the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Command Center, located at East Sunrise Blvd. and Breakers Avenue.

It is a violation of city ordinance 6-4 to have pets “on any sidewalk or public property on either the west or east sides of State Road A1A (including the roadway itself)” or “in the sandy portion of the beach.” Officers will be enforcing the ordinance and asking for voluntary compliance. Just as with bicycles, no pets should be brought into any section of the show area or past the noted road closures.

Over the past few years, there has been an increase of individuals fencing off and erecting canopies and tents over large areas of the beach for their family and friends. This creates areas of exclusive use on the public beach and creates crowd control and safety issues during this extremely busy weekend. We are asking for voluntary compliance of Park and Recreation/Beach Regulation 7.0, that spectators not erect these tents, canopies and fencing, as they will be told to take down any of these items erected.

This is not new, however the military has asked us to again ask that kites and balloons not be flown along the beach during the show, as it creates a safety hazard for the performers.

• Traffic on A1A from East Sunrise Blvd. south to Vistamar Street will be one lane northbound and one lane southbound from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 1st, until Tuesday, May 8th.
• A1A will be closed to vehicular traffic at 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 30th from East Sunrise Blvd., north to the 1900 block of A1A, and will reopen Tuesday, May 8th. Residents in this area must enter from the north at N.E. 19 Street, as there will be no access from East Sunrise Blvd.
• A1A will be closed from Bayshore Drive to Sunrise Blvd. from Saturday, May 5th at 12 a.m., through Sunday, May 6th at 11 p.m.
• East Sunrise Blvd. will be closed to vehicular traffic between Bayview Drive and A1A during the show hours, and limited traffic access from Friday, May 4th – Monday, May 7th.
• Access to the beach for vehicles will be limited, and can only be made by way of S.E. 17 Street, East Las Olas Blvd., and East Oakland Park Blvd.
• No eastbound traffic will be allowed on East Sunrise Blvd. east of Gateway from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday’s and Sunday’s show days. Traffic will be diverted north on US 1 at the Gateway intersection. This will expedite clearing the beach following the show.
• All businesses in the areas affected by the traffic restrictions are expected to remain open for their normal hours during the weekend.

Vehicle passes will be issued to people who live or work within the restricted areas, which will allow them to pass through two checkpoints. Those checkpoints will be at East Sunrise Boulevard and Bayview Drive, and at A1A and N.E. 19th Street. Residents or businesses with questions about passes, or in need of passes, may call (954) 828-5645.

If you plan to attend the Air & Sea Show®, presented by CBS 4, with your boat May 4th – 6th, 2007, please be advised of the following safety restrictions:

• There will be a restricted safety zone four miles long, North to South, beginning North of Oakland Park Boulevard and extending South to the Port Everglades Inlet. The restricted area will extend from shore out to 4,000 feet and will be marked with buoys. The Port Everglades Channel will remain open for traffic, however, all vessels must proceed east past the 4,000 foot marker before heading North. Mariners will be allowed only outside of the flight line and the U.S. Naval vessels safety perimeter that will be marked by security vessels.
• The restricted safety zone will be strictly enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fort Lauderdale Police Department Marine Unit, Broward County Sheriff Marine Unit, and other local law enforcement agencies. As always, please remember to BOATSMART, use alcohol responsibly and wear your lifejackets.

Further details may be available on the Port Everglades web site or your local Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

Spectator Safety Zone (no entry)

A four nautical mile long by 4000 foot wide regulated area has been established to protect spectator craft during the Air & Sea Show. The regulated area includes all waters of the Atlantic Ocean west of a line drawn from 26˚ 10.32’N, 080˚ 05.9’W to 26˚ 08.24’N, 080˚ 05.38’W to 26˚ 06.36’N, 080˚ 05.58’W.

Coral Reef Conservation Zones (anchorage areas)

In order to protect the coral reefs in the area, mariners are required to anchor between the yellow and white buoy lines seen in the map below, between the fist and second reef tracts. The yellow buoy line runs north from 26˚ 07.83’N, 080˚ 05.35’W to 26˚ 10.32’N, 080˚ 05.09’W. The white buoy line runs north from 26˚ 07.83’N, 080˚ 05.26’W to 26˚ 10.12’N, 080˚ 04.92’W. If mariners cannot safely anchor in the primary anchorage area defined between the yellow and white buoy lines, they are required to drop anchor east of the orange buoys. The orange buoy line runs north from 26˚ 07.83’N, 080˚ 04.99’W to 26˚ 10.31’N, 080˚ 04.78’W, east of the second reef tract. These anchoring restrictions are in place to protect sensitive coral reef habitat and marine life. By Florida law, it is illegal to damage Florida’s delicate coral reefs, such as those found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off Broward County. When anchoring east of the orange buoy line use navigational charts to locate the reefs, and be aware of the extreme damage an anchor can cause to fragile coral beneath your vessel. Read your navigational charts to avoid reef tracts, and anchor in the sand or tie up to mooring buoys where available. It is against the law and harmful to marine life to dispose of trash or other debris in the water. Be sure to pump out your sewage only at marina pump-out stations and dispose of trash in designated areas on shore.

Naval Vessel Exclusionary Zone (no entry)

Additionally, a Naval Vessel Exclusionary Zone will be in effect when U.S. Navy ships are present. A Naval Vessel Exclusionary Zone (NVPZ) is a 500 yard regulated area of water surrounding U.S. naval vessels greater than 100 feet in length. This regulated area is active at all times regardless of the status of the U.S. naval vessel (i.e. underway or moored). When within a Naval Vessel Exclusionary Zone, all vessels shall operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course. No vessels are permitted within 100 yards of a U.S. naval vessel without permission of the Coast Guard or the senior naval officer present in command. All boaters, with the exception of event participant vessels, are prohibited from entering the regulated areas without expressed permission of the Coast Guard. Violators subject to penalty. The regulated areas are effective during the following times:

• Friday, 04 May 2007 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Saturday, 05 May 2007 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Sunday, 0 May 2007 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Naval Vessel Exclusionary Zone:

Reef Map

There will be several waterway restrictions in Port Everglades throughout Fleet Week USA®. To allow Navy vessels to safely enter and exit the port, U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Broward Sheriff’s Office vessels will restrict vessel traffic movement in Port Everglades during the following dates and times:

• Monday, April 30th, 2007 - 6:00 a.m. until 12 Noon
• Friday, May 4th, 2007 - 7:00 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Recreational and commercial traffic are advised that from April 30th through May 4th, the portion of the Intracoastal Waterway from Dania Cut Off Canal (South) to the tip of previously operated Burt and Jack’s Restaurant (North) to near the West side of the 17th Street Causeway Bridge will be partially restricted due to existing U.S. Naval vessel security zones.

Additionally, the John U. Lloyd State Park Boat ramp, Whiskey Creek and Dry Marina will be closed for security measures from 6:00 a.m. until 12 noon, Monday, April 30th through Friday, May 4th.

Boaters can expect to see an increased law enforcement presence along this portion of the Intracoastal Waterway to assist boaters in staying well to the East while transiting the area.

Due to federal security regulation, boaters are not allowed to come within 100-yards of U.S. Naval vessels without authorization, and are required to maintain a minimum safe speed when within 500-yards of any U.S. Naval vessels.

Boaters are reminded to monitor Channel-16 for updates and information regarding the Port and Intracoastal Waterway and restrictions. All boaters are advised to transit this area with caution during the period of April 30th – May 4th, 2007.