AVENTURA, Fla. – Several streets were still submerged in Aventura Thursday morning, swamping multiple vehicles.
“Cars are dropped just on the streets and everywhere – it’s apocalyptic,” one resident said.
Drivers were left with no choice but to abandon them overnight as the heavy rains dumped nearly a foot of water on the area.
“This is craziness. We can’t even make it through here. It’s a risk,” one Aventura resident said.
One after another, drivers were encountering high waters along Northeast 203rd Street Thursday morning.
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS: Flooding widespread as storms sweep across South Florida
Some decided not to take their chances, while others plowed through, hoping to make it to the other side.
Sky 10 was above the area of Northeast 147th Street and 14th Avenue around 7:15 a.m. as a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crew rescued a woman who was trapped in her vehicle.
Another woman could be seen nearby, waiting for help as well.
On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for five counties — Broward and Miami-Dade on Florida’s Atlantic coast and Collier, Lee and Sarasota counties on the state’s west coast.
In Miami-Dade County, crews towed away hundreds of cars Thursday morning, many of which were left sitting in the street.
The high waters also kept shoppers stuck at Aventura Mall Wednesday, as many were unable to leave the parking garages.
“It is crazy. Everyone’s trying to get out at the same time. It’s flooded through both exits, so hopefully we can get home safe,” Tiffany Spink told Local 10 Wednesday.
“As we’re entering Aventura, there’s 2 1/2 feet of water,” bus passenger Ramon Castro said.
One man snapped a photo after he says water started coming into the city bus.
“The bus driver says, ‘I can’t go any further.’ I’ve never seen anything like that where the water was coming into the bus,” Castro said.
“Everything was just coming in and coming in -- water up to your knees all over the salon,” a salon owner told Local 10′s Trent Kelly Thursday morning.
The salon owner was drying out his shop Thursday and shoring up the front doors with sandbags as more rain was expected in the area.
Even a drug store next door was continuing to pump out water that had seeped inside.
“I’m here like I said 10 years, and it’s been flooded but never that bad,” the salon owner said. “The water never got to the point that it’s just splashing on the windows so hard.”
In northeast Miami-Dade, the water was so high in some neighborhoods, Local 10 News reporter Janine Stanwood saw a dog house that was almost completely underwater.
Residents in the area told her the heavy flooding took them by surprise, because while the area is prone to flooding, it’s never this bad.
“It’s pretty somber,” Angelo Ferreris said. “I’ve seen, throughout the day, families grabbing bags of clothes and stuff, and I guess staying with other family members.”
Ferreris said he was lucky his home was doing OK amid the flooding.
“I just pray for our neighbors,” he said.
SANDBAG GIVEAWAYS
Miami: Sandbags will be given out to City of Miami residents at the Little Haiti Soccer Park until 2 p.m. Thursday. The park is located at 6301 NE Second Ave. Residents must present a valid ID.
Opa-locka: Sandbags will be given out to Opa-locka residents from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Opa-locka Public Works Department, located at 12950 NW 42nd Ave.
Miramar: Miramar residents can pick up free sandbags at the following locations:
Sunset Lakes, (2801 SW 186th Ave, 33029); Lakeshore Park (8915 Miramar Parkway); and the Multi-Service Complex (6700 Miramar Parkway, 33023).
The sandbags will be given out at the following times:
Thursday: from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CLICK HERE for the latest weather updates from Local 10′s Weather Authority.