SFWMD Moving Additional Pumps to Hardest Hit Areas, Taking Actions to Help Communities Recover from Hurricane Irma

West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today continued its response to mitigate the impacts of Hurricane Irma by working to drain flood waters from communities throughout all 16 counties of South Florida.

SFWMD crews are removing three 42-inch temporary pumps previously installed next to the S-39 structure in Palm Beach County to Collier County, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Irma. The pumps will assist in lowering canal levels in the Big Cypress Basin (BCB) where canals are flowing at maximum capacity to move water away from communities and out to tide. The pumps will increase the District's capacity to move flood water out to tide.

The District is also working with Orlando International Airport to increase the amount of water the airport can discharge from its property to nearby Boggy Creek to lower floodwaters faster. District officials have determined airport discharges can be increased without negatively impacting the Boggy Creek area.