HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Hallandale Beach residents are trying to pick up the pieces Thursday after several streets remain submerged under several inches of water due to the severe flooding in South Florida this week.
A Local 10 News crew was in the southwest section of Southwest Third Street and Ninth Avenue, which had been particularly hard hit by the flooding.
While the city has deployed pumps in certain areas, a public works director said they are unable to utilize them in others due to the intensity of the flooding.
Several vehicles were seen stranded on Thursday afternoon, with some even submerged along Southwest Third Street.
Earlier, a Broward County Transit bus had to be rerouted due to the blocked roadway caused by stalled vehicles.
Sky 10 flew over the scene where a gray SUV was seen submerged in waters near the 900 block of Southwest Third Avenue.
Local 10 News spoke with the driver who said the crash was a complete missight.
According to the driver, who identified herself as a realtor, she was en route to show a property to a client in the vicinity when she unexpectedly encountered the flooded waters.
The woman also claimed the water level was so elevated in the area that she initially mistook it for a parking lot.
The woman said she was able to escape the vehicle after crawling out of one of her vehicle’s windows. She said she did not sustain any injuries.
Local 10 News was at the scene when the woman’s Jeep was pulled out of the water and then towed away,
Residents have been navigating the flooded streets on foot, encountering wildlife such as catfish and other critters swimming in the water and expressed their concern about the recurring flooding, emphasizing the need for improved drainage infrastructure.
Sky 10 flew over the scene of Hallandale Beach where main roadways remained covered with water and cars struggled to move around the area.
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS: Flooding widespread as storms sweep across South Florida
“Hallandale Beach took the brunt of the storm,” Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane told Local 10 News on Wednesday. “We received about 19 inches of water, which is quite the amount of water and we performed five rescues and rescued seven people using out boats.”
Local 10 News also spoke with Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper Thursday who shared her recovery plans for her city.
“We’re blessed to have a great team of first responders. They have actually had 26 high water rescues— a total of 35 individuals, and many of them were conducted by connector boats to get people out. They have responded to over 174 water-related emergencies in our city. We’re encouraging everybody to still hunker down at home just as they would maybe with a hurricane situation,” said Cooper.
Cooper said Hallandale Beach has already seen 20 inches of rain and is planning on receiving 10 more inches. The state has also delivered some pumps for the city as well.
The Public Works Department said they are actively engaged in clearing drains to facilitate better water drainage.
“I honestly think we need to create more drainage out here because it’s getting ridiculous,” said Greg Garcia, a Hallandale Beach resident.
The flooding has resulted in damage to some parked vehicles, with water levels reaching knee-high even after hours of receding.
Residents of Hallandale Beach who are in need of a place to stay due to the flooding should contact Vice Mayor Anabelle Lima-Taub. Her contact information can be found on the city’s website. Click her to view.
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