Aug. 30, 2018
West Palm Beach, FL – The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is preparing the regional flood control system to handle heavy local rainfall expected from a tropical wave approaching South Florida this Labor Day weekend.
At the same time, SFWMD has been working around the clock for months to lower water levels in the water conservation areas to create capacity for sending additional Lake Okeechobee water south, all in an effort to alleviate South Florida's high water emergency caused by record May rainfall.
SFWMD Chief Engineer John Mitnik gave an update on current water conditions and efforts to prepare the flood control system for the storm as part of the agency's weekly video series. The video series and website were established to inform the public on current water conditions and the agency's actions amid the high water emergency. The video update can be seen by clicking HERE or visiting the District's website dedicated to the emergency situation at www.sfwmd.gov/managinghighwater.
The storm system is forecasted to drop an average of about 2 inches Districtwide this weekend through Tuesday as it passes over South Florida. Local maximums in some areas could be as high as 5-10 inches.
In the video, Mitnik discussed how the District is coordinating with local drainage districts to help them prepare their local drainage systems for the storm. SFWMD is also lowering canal levels in its regional flood control system in order to take stormwater from local drainage districts and municipalities to protect families and properties from flooding.
Flood control in South Florida is a shared responsibility between the District, which operates the regional flood control system, and local drainage districts, municipalities and homeowners associations that operate the primary and secondary drainage systems that move flood waters away from homes and neighborhoods. Residents throughout South Florida can find what local agency to contact about flooding concerns based on their address by visiting the District's Flood Control website at www.sfwmd.gov/stormupdate. Residents can also watch an educational video about how the shared flood control system works by clicking HERE.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/6h37qr-fEvQ.jpg?itok=7ExkzkP_","video_url":"https://youtu.be/6h37qr-fEvQ","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
SFWMD Chief Engineer John Mitnik provides an update on current water conditions and discusses actions being taken, in coordination with local drainage districts, to lower water levels in preparation for rainfall expected from a tropical wave approaching over Labor Day weekend.