HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Even before feeling the effects of Hurricane Milton, Hollywood residents started to experience flooding on Sunday in low-lying areas.
Jason Neiman, a Hollywood resident, said he was preparing. A flood watch is in effect for Broward County from Sunday to Thursday.
“When the ground is saturated like it is right now and extra rain we usually see some flooding,” Neiman said adding, “In my house my backyard will fill up to about the back steps, so grabbing some sand today just to keep the back step where the door coming into the house from flooding inside the house.”
“We have sent the rains, and the floods come so easily,” said Lana, another Hollywood resident. “It’s been really worrisome.”
Several cities in the area declared a state of emergency following Gov. Ron DeSantis’s declaration at over 50 Florida counties. Several cities also set up sandbagging sites and deployed pumps. Hollywood had one ready at North 14 Avenue and Harding Street.
11 p.m. report:
Similar concerns are being raised in Fort Lauderdale’s Edgewood neighborhood, where residents fear a repeat of the historic flooding from April 2023.
“I’m concerned about getting four feet of water in my house again,” said resident John McConis. “We don’t want our lives to be destroyed again.”
On Sunday, long lines formed as Fort Lauderdale residents waited to pick up sandbags, hoping to protect their homes from the anticipated deluge.
“I’m hoping it dissipates somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico,” Lana added.
HELPFUL LISTS
WEATHER AUTHORITY: Flood watch in effect in Miami-Dade, Broward
HURRICANE SPECIALIST: Milton
REPORTING FROM TAMPA
FOR THE LATEST UPDATES, visit Local 10′s hurricane page, the weather page for the hourly local forecast, sign up for the free Talking Tropics newsletter and download the free tracker mobile app on the Apple Store or Google Play.