FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Drivers traversed through soaked streets across Fort Lauderdale as heavy rains inundated South Florida Tuesday. Some neighborhoods in the city are still reeling from last year’s monumental flooding.
“The city has done a lot of additional work since the April event to improve neighborhoods hardest hit.” Nancy Gassman, Fort Lauderdale’s assistant public works director, said.
With even more wet weather in the forecast, Gassman said residents should be prepared but not panicked.
“There’s new infrastructure in the ground. There are new drainage systems that will support this type of daily rainfall,” she said.
On Tuesday, drivers trekked through water on Northeast 56th Street.
“We’re seeing some mild ponding along the roadways, but nothing significant,” Gassman said, noting that the city’s drainage systems are in good shape.
Just off Broward Boulevard downtown, there was a splashing situation on Northwest Sixth Avenue.
“We know it’s going to be a 4-9 day forecast of heavy rains.” Broward County Commissioner Robert McKinzie, who represents the unincorporated Boulevard Gardens area near Fort Lauderdale, said as he checked on the area’s drainage system maintenance Tuesday.
He added, “I just want people to be prepared. Don’t get in your cars and drive through wading water. I mean, that’s an accident waiting to happen. Try alternative routes or just don’t try to drive as much during this weather.”
Gassman added that it’s important to “know what to do if you spot severe street flooding.”
“If (residents) see areas that are really overwhelmed and impossible to traffic, they should please give the city a call and we’ll send out someone to investigate,” she said.