DAILY UPDATE
SFWMD Preparing Regional Flood Protection System for Hurricane Dorian
District lowering canals, coordinating with local drainage districts to ensure flood protection for 8.7 million residents as storm approaches
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Click on the image to visit the National Hurricane Center's website and get the latest forecast information of Hurricane Dorian.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Hurricane Dorian may impact South Florida as early as this weekend, and t
he South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)'s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is in the Enhanced Monitoring level. Today, the District continues collaborating with local drainage districts and municipalities, is preparing the regional flood protection system and is ready to fully activate its Emergency Operations Center. The District's preparations aim to protect communities from flooding and handle heavy rainfall from the storm.
SFWMD Meteorologists are predicting local maximum rainfall as high as 8-12 inches in the parts of the District over the weekend.
SFWMD will continue to keep the public updated on its emergency operations and flood control efforts as Hurricane Dorian approaches.
How SFWMD is Preparing for Hurricane Dorian
SFWMD is continuing to draw down canals throughout its regional flood
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Click on the image to see a larger version of the infographic explaining drainage and flood protection is South Florida. |
protection system to ensure capacity to take stormwater from local drainage districts and municipalities to prevent flooding. The District is also collaborating with local drainage districts and municipalities throughout the week to coordinate flood control efforts as Tropical Storm Dorian approaches. SFWMD has also informed staff that it may activate its Emergency Operations Center over the weekend to respond to the situation depending on developing conditions.
SFWMD is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to utilize every available structure, such as recently completed bridges that have raised portions of Tamiami Trail, to move water south out of the water management areas.
Throughout the year, SFWMD continually works to stay ready for emergency situations such as hurricanes by maintaining pumps and other infrastructure, keeping canal rights of way clear of debris and vegetation that can block the flow of stormwater and conducting the annual Hurricane Freddy exercise every spring to test the response readiness of SFWMD staff.
Background
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
sfwmd.gov/floodcontrol.
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