Key takeaways:
- 11-17 inches of rain caused widespread flooding in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- The city activated its emergency operations center and secured airboats for potential rescues.
- High-speed commuter rail service was suspended and the city is urging residents to stay off the roads until the water has subsided.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida was hit with a deluge of rain on Wednesday, causing widespread flooding and the closure of the city’s airport. Radar estimates showed 11 to 12 inches of rain in the Fort Lauderdale area, with up to 17 inches closer to the coast, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.
The city of 181,000 activated its emergency operations center and secured airboats to conduct any rescues. The city also released a statement urging residents and visitors to stay off the roads until the water has subsided.
The heavy rain also caused the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service for the Broward County region. The flash flood emergency had been issued for areas near Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach, but even after that expired early Thursday a flood warning remained until 8 a.m.
Police and Fire Rescue continue to answer calls for service, and Public Works staff are clearing drains and operating pumps to mitigate the water as quickly as possible. The city of Fort Lauderdale is urging residents to take caution and remain off the roads until the water has subsided.
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