Hurricane Ian Update: Director Drew Bartlett Provides Update on SFWMD’s Ongoing Response Efforts
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South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Executive Director Drew Bartlett provided an update this evening from the SFWMD’s Emergency Operations Center on the District’s ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Ian.
District Actions
- Continuing to work in partnership with Osceola County and Orange County to reduce flows of water into the regional lake system and provide relief to impacted communities.
- Some regional lakes appear to have reached their peak. This means that District operations will move water out of those lake systems and begin lowering those lake levels.
- Deploying additional high volume pumps at strategic locations and many more pumps are being staged and getting ready for operation.
- Continuing to work with Lee County to remove debris out of the drainage system.
- Continuing to coordinate with our local, state and federal partners including FEMA to support local recovery efforts.
- Re-opened six navigational boat locks in Glades, Hendry, Martin and Okeechobee counties.
- Using water control structures and other navigational locks at full capacity to move water away from communities.
- Re-opened SFWMD-Managed Lands in Hendry, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties today at 5:00 pm. All other SFWMD-Managed Lands will remain closed for safety purposes.
- Keeping the SFWMD's Emergency Operations Center at Level 1, Full Activation.
Residents are reminded to avoid floodwaters and pay attention to their County Emergency Operations Center. Boaters are encouraged to exercise caution when navigating waterways and avoid creating a wake that could impact homes and businesses.
SFWMD will continue to keep the public informed on its emergency operations. Continue to follow SFWMD on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates on our operations.
Media Resources
- Watch the Oct. 5 Update
- Download the Oct. 5 Update
- Interviews with water management officials may be coordinated with Jason Schultz at jschultz@sfwmd.gov.