Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for several counties, including Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Sarasota, as heavy rainfall continues to inundate parts of southern Florida. This announcement was made on Wednesday in response to the ongoing severe weather conditions in the affected areas.
According to the National Weather Service in Miami, as of Wednesday evening, homes, businesses, and roads in Hallandale and Hollywood, as well as other parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, are still experiencing “life-threatening flooding.”
Due to heavy rainfall causing flooding in major roadways, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis had declared a state of emergency.
On social media, Trantalis stated that the City’s emergency management team is closely monitoring the situation and deploying resources.
According to Trantalis, the city has already deployed high-water vehicles to respond to emergencies, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will also be sending out boats and buggies. However, he strongly advised people to avoid travelling on the roads if possible.
The weather has prompted Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to declare a state of emergency.
She stated that safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the entire community is crucial while our departments continue to ensure the safety of residents and businesses.
By Wednesday afternoon, Broward and Miami-Dade counties had already received up to seven inches of rainfall, and several more inches were anticipated to pour down.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood area experienced an intense rainfall rate of up to four inches per hour. Similarly, Sarasota also witnessed a rainfall rate of almost four inches per hour.
As of Wednesday, Broward and Miami-Dade counties have received over 10 inches of rainfall, and the forecast predicts several more inches to come.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood area experienced a rainfall rate of six inches per hour, while Sarasota saw a rainfall rate of almost four inches per hour.
The region from Sarasota to Miami has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the past few days, with six to 10 inches already recorded. On Tuesday, Sarasota had a record-breaking downpour of over half a foot of rain, causing flash floods on the streets in just a few hours.
Southern Florida remains under a flood watch until Friday evening due to heavy rainfall, which could result in rain accumulation of approximately 15 to 20 inches.
