South Florida Hoping to Dry Out After Heavy Rains Swamp Cars, Overflow Sewers

Torrential rainfall in south Florida was enough to swamp cars and overflow sewage drains, but damage may have been limited by local governments’ renewed efforts to clear debris and improve drainage.

The Miami Herald and other news outlets reported that North Miami Beach and parts of Broward County—no strangers to flooding issues—saw 10 inches of rain in recent days. Fort Lauderdale and Homestead were hit hard in the deluge.

One motorist called 911 Monday as water rose into the vehicle.

The flooding may have been lessened in some spots that saw heavy flooding three years ago. Fort Lauderdale deployed four stormwater pumps this week to help keep water levels down on a number of streets, and vacuum trucks cleared stormwater drains, the Herald reported.

Officials in Wilton Manors, north of Fort Lauderdale, said they have invested in wastewater infrastructure and are studying how stormwater may be infiltrating the sanitary sewerage system, news outlets reported.

Meanwhile, two tropical storms have formed in the Atlantic, but it may be days before forecasters determine if the storms may be headed toward U.S. shorelines, the National Hurricane Center noted.