Skip to main content
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
Home South Florida Water Management District
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board Chairman
    • Open Government
    • Governing Board
    • Budget & Finance Reports
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Python Elimination Program
    • Addressing Blue-Green Algae
    • Resiliency
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • Right of Way Permits
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Grants/Funding Opportunities
  • Community & Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Recreation
    • Navigation
    • Education Center
    • Everglades License Plate
  • Science & Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • GIS
    • Survey Data
    • Modeling
  • News & Meetings
    • News Releases
    • Public Meetings
    • Calendar
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Photo & Video
    • Fact Sheets
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Locations
  1. Home
  2. community residents
  3. flood prepping how to
  • Water Conservation
    • Overview
    • Homeowners
    • Multi-Family Residences and Commercial Buildings
    • Lawn Watering Restrictions
    • Local Government Model Ordinances and Codes
    • District Programs and Partnerships
    • Florida-Friendly Landscaping
    • Water Use Calculator
  • Recreation
    • Overview
    • Recreation Sites
    • Special Use License (SUL)
    • Navigation
    • Geocaching
  • Education Center
  • What You Can Do
    • Prepare for Flooding
    • Your Impact on the Environment
    • Volunteering
    • License Plate

What You Can Do (Flood Control)

photo of woman clearing leaves from a drainage grateDid you know that in very heavy rains, some water standing in streets or swales is part of the flood control design plan and is expected? Your neighborhood lake's water level may seem to rise alarmingly, but that's not likely to last. If the system in your neighborhood is working properly, levels will return to normal soon after the rain has stopped. A heavier, more widespread and longer-lasting storm will require more time for local, secondary and regional systems to absorb the excess water. Because these flood control systems are connected, what's happening upstream or downstream from your neighborhood also has an impact.

You can help these systems work efficiently. Make sure the drainage grates and other parts of your neighborhood drainage system are clear of debris. Grass clippings and fallen leaves can quickly slow drainage in your neighborhood.

For resources to help you prepare for flooding, click the links below.

  • [INFOGRAPHIC] Rain Drain: What to expect in your neighborhood when it rains [PDF]
  • Managing Flood Water: Before and After the Storm [PDF]
  • Managing Flood Water: Before and After the Storm – Presentation [PDF]
  • Keeping Canals Clear [PDF]
  • Stormwise Landscapes [PDF]
  • Managing Every Drop [PDF]
  • Administrando Cada Gota [PDF]
  • FAQs: What to Expect in the Rainy Season [PDF]
     

Map: Who to Contact for Localized Flooding

Local (secondary) canal systems in South Florida are maintained and operated by cities, counties and water control districts – also known as 298 districts for the chapter of Florida Statutes that outlines their responsibilities. These secondary canal systems receive water from neighborhoods and store excess water or move it to the regional flood control system managed by the South Florida Water Management District.

More than 100 water control districts and local governments operate secondary canal systems within the SFWMD's 16-county region. To see which entity is responsible for the secondary system where you live, type your address into the search bar on the map below. You can find contact information and more details in the Near Me box or by clicking directly on the map.

* NOTE TO MOBILE USERS: For a mobile-friendly version of this map, please click here.

  • ASK US
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board
    • Big Cypress Basin Board
    • Open Government
    • Public Records Request
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Resiliency
    • Emergency Management
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Land Management
  • Community and Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Year-Round Rule
    • Recreation
    • Educational Center
    • Volunteering
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • ePermitting
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Cooperative Funding
    • Agriculture
    • AVATAR
  • Science and Information/Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Water Levels
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • Environmental Monitoring
    • Modeling
  • News and Events
    • News Releases
    • Meeting Agendas & Minutes
    • Calendar
    • Photo and Video Resources
South Florida Water Management District

Contact Information

3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

561-686-8800

800-432-2045 (Florida Only)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Login
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
  • Careers