FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The weekend got off to a soggy start in South Florida after afternoon storms led to extensive flooding in some pockets of Fort Lauderdale and triggered a flood advisory for parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
7News cameras captured a roadway resembling a river in the area of Southwest 21st Terrace and 10th Court, between Davie and Broward boulevards, in an industrial neighborhood just west of Interstate 95, at around 4:10 p.m., Friday.
An aerial view from 7Skyforce captured several stalled cars.
Floodwaters were also seen on Friday in the Edgewood neighborhood, just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and south of State Road 84. This is the same neighborhood that saw some of the most extreme precipitation in the historic floods that affected the region back in April.
Robert Daniels, who works in the area, said flooding is something he deals with on a regular basis.
“All the time. Every time it rains – the other end is flooded now; they blocked it off so you can’t get through,” he said.
When ask how much of a hassle this is, driver Andy Skrimmer replied, “A big one. You’ve just got to go really slow, and you run the risk of getting grounded.”
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue officials believe just under three inches of rain fell in the hardest hit areas.
In addition to all the downpours in Broward, high rain totals were reported in Miami-Dade, with the highest being Opa-locka with 2.16 inches.
Authorities advise drivers to avoid going through standing water whenever possible.
“If you see flooded waters, please turn around. There’s a saying: ‘turn around, don’t drown,'” said FLFR Chief Stephen Gollan. “You have no idea where the roadway begins and where it ends, so a lot of times, cars are going off the roadway into people’s front yards, will hit objects that are not seen under the water and ultimately cause more damage to the businesses around them, as well as their own vehicle.”
“It’s just, this has got to stop, this is ridiculous,” said David Woodin, who works in the area. “People pay a lot in property taxes in here. The city wants their taxes, but they need to make it safe for us.”
The flood advisory remained in effect in Broward County until 5 p.m.
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