HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Severe rain and flooding impacted areas across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties on Wednesday.
In Hallandale Beach, main roadways were covered with water and cars struggled to move around.
“In the words of our city manager, we’re throwing everything at the storm,” said Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper. “We’re seeing a storm to the likes of last year in April, those inches of rain just inundating every inch of our city.”
Water levels at Eastwood Mobile Home Park, located off Southeast Seventh Street and U.S. 1, were getting so high that residents could be seen wading through with water coming halfway up their bodies.
One woman named Joanna told Local 10 News’ Layron Livingston that she was inside her home with her daughter and their dog, and for hours they watched the water get higher and higher until she eventually took a kiddie pool, filling it with personal items and important documents before walking across Federal Highway to get to Gulfstream Park, where she works.
“I have three days until I have to come back to work, so hopefully it’s done by then,” she said. “I don’t know where I’m going to live, though.”
Several vehicles were nearly completely covered by water and abandoned.
“Our fire department was out there rescuing a woman that was stranded in her car for quite some time,” said Cooper. “We had an all hands on deck moment because apparently an autistic child was lost, and I’m just getting reports that a child was lost in the waters. I don’t know if they’re recovered.”
Earlier Wednesday, flooding caused Hallandale Beach City Hall and Cultural Center to close early.
“What we are telling people is if you are in danger, call 911,” said Cooper.