Dear Neighbors:
We’ve reached that point of the year when Fort Lauderdale experiences unusually high seasonal tides – king tides.
The city is not only taking its normal precautions for the upcoming tides, but we also have launched an aggressive initiative to address flooding in low-lying neighborhoods long term. Fort Lauderdale is one of this nation’s cities most impacted by global climate change and sea-level rise, and this City Commission is acting proactively to keep our community safe.
The king tides are expected to occur from now through Sept. 22; Oct. 14-21; Nov. 13-18; and Dec.13-15.
Stay Safe
Residents who live close to the water or in low-lying areas should take the following precautions:
- Do not drive through flooded areas, turn around and find an alternate safe route to minimize damage to your vehicle and surrounding property.
- If you must drive through flood water, rinse the undercarriage of your vehicle to remove any salt water and minimize corrosive damage.
- Evaluate your property's readiness and prepare flood protection measures if needed, such as sandbags to use at door thresholds and garage doors.
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Review your flood insurance policy to understand your coverage. Additional information on flood insurance, flood insurance rate maps, floodplain management regulations, and ideas to protect your property from flood damage can be found on the city website at fortlauderdale.gov/flood.
- If you experience flooding on your street, make sure storm drains are not blocked and remove waste collection carts as quickly as possible after they are emptied, or wait until your next scheduled collection day to put them out.
- If you live on a street where the city has installed one of the 177 tidal valves, ponding may occur if it rains during high tide. Be assured that your tidal valve is working, and the ponding will subside as the tide goes out and allows the valve to open and release the rainwater.
- If you encounter flood water, rinse off to remove the saltwater and minimize exposure to pollutants in the ponded water.
Be assured. Our city crews will be out there working for you during this time. They will be clearing storm drains and catch basins and monitoring pump station operations. Please report flooding or clogged storm drains to the city’s 24-Hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000 or via our Lauderserv mobile app.
How the City is Addressing King Tides and Sea-Level Rise
Our coastal location and natural geography make Fort Lauderdale a desirable place to live, but they also make us susceptible to climate change and sea-level rise. As I said, your city government is addressing the need for an improved stormwater infrastructure to address rapidly changing climate conditions.
Our Stormwater Master Plan identifies our most vulnerable areas and spells out improvements to minimize flooding.
Over the next five years, we will invest $200 million into critical stormwater projects in the areas identified as most at risk: Dorsey Riverbend, Durrs, Edgewood, Progresso Village, River Oaks and Victoria Park as well as the greater Southeast Isles area of the Las Olas Isles and Rio Vista.
These areas currently lack significant stormwater infrastructure. For instance, Edgewood currently relies on swales for drainage but will now have a network of pipes installed. Today, pumping capacity is very limited across Fort Lauderdale. We currently have only four pump stations and will build eight more.
The city will add exfiltration trenches, catch basins, permeable pavement, swales, and force mains in addition to the pump stations and stormwater pipes.
We have been able to leverage a line of credit to get an early start on parts of the project. Construction of a nine-acre stormwater retention area in the River Oaks community is nearing completion and will also function as a nature preserve with elevated boardwalks and a historic bascule bridge.
In January, we will begin additional construction in Edgewood and River Oaks. That work will include new storm sewers and swales and two new pump stations.
And, more work is occurring outside of this project. We are making sure private seawalls meet city code standards and improving public seawalls. Work is underway currently on our seawall on Cordova Road so we can ensure the roads are passable and neighboring property protected.
This is a can-do commission, and we are making tremendous progress to protect our community years and decades into the future.
Sincerely,
Dean
