CNN – Heavy rainfall could swamp South Florida for a third day in a row on Thursday, threatening more destructive flooding after Wednesday’s storms transformed roads into canals and seeped into homes and more is yet to come later this week. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared an emergency for Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties after dangerous flooding immobilized the operations of critical infrastructure on Wednesday, including major interstates, roadways, schools and airports. Flood warnings are in place for cities including Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Naples until Thursday morning, where between 4 and 13 inches of rainfall fell across the region Wednesday. Additional rainfall up to 2 inches possible in the area. Resident Kait Madrigal spent five hours stuck in her car Wednesday after it became suddenly surrounded by floodwaters on her way to work near Hollywood, Florida, she told CNN. She was able to park on the sidewalk to get to higher ground but began to panic as the water rose and cars began to stall out around her.
After hours of unrelenting rain, Madrigal waded through the water and was able to find a possible exit route. Fearing she may become trapped all night, she drove out and was able to get home safely, she said. Several local officials have warned against trying to drive through murky floodwaters and are urging storm-weary South Floridians to stay home. Most flood-related drownings occur when cars unknowingly drive into deep water, the Florida Department of Highway Safety said. Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport led the nation with the most flights canceled or delayed Wednesday, with more than 1,200 disruptions. The air travel woes are only expected to continue through the end of the workweek.
In Broward County, the severe storms prompted school officials to postpone the demolition of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School building where a gunman killed 17 people in 2018. Many South Florida residents had only just finished repairing their homes after catastrophic flooding in April 2023, only to find water lapping at their doorsteps Wednesday. Anna Rysedorph, a resident of the Broward County neighborhood of Edgewood, prepared for the worst as water circled her ankles in her home. “I put the dogs in, I’m all packed up. I pretty much got everything in bins and we’re ready to go, Edgewood resident Anna Rysedorph told CNN affiliate WSVN Wednesday. (CNN)…[+]