05-05-2025
Hurricane season on the way: Will Fort Lauderdale be ready?
Fort Lauderdale wants to be ready for the next big storm, especially with hurricane season on the way.
Experts are predicting a busy season with nine hurricanes, including four major storms.
A historic rainstorm that swept through town on April 12, 2023, deluged several Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods, exposing just how vulnerable the city is to flooding.
That storm hit home, triggering an accelerated action plan from the city to install $700 million in drainage upgrades over the next decade to help safeguard more than 25 neighborhoods from the next extreme storm.
On Tuesday, commissioners will get an update from staff on the city's latest plan to prepare for the next hurricane season beginning on June 1 and ending on Nov. 30.
Commissioner Ben Sorensen said he requested the update.
'Nothing is more important than public safety,' he said Friday. 'We've got to be all hands on deck and engage in preparation now so we can be ready. I wanted a full update before hurricane season starts. I wanted a full update on what our plan is and what our resources are in terms of vac trucks, mobile generators and staffing levels.'
Commissioner Steve Glassman, whose district includes flood-prone neighborhoods on the barrier island, said he's looking forward to the update.
'I think it's a great idea,' Glassman said. 'It's always good to be prepared and know what the plan is. We just have a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to these unexpected rainfalls and storms.'
Floodwaters damaged more than 1,000 homes when the record-breaking rainstorm dumped nearly 26 inches of rain on Fort Lauderdale in a matter of hours.
The storm made it clear to city officials just how important it is to be ready for the next flood, Sorensen said.
'I think it dramatically accelerated the emphasis in the deployment of infrastructure upgrades,' he said. 'It also really highlighted that we've got to do a better job of communicating how we plan to help the community during and after a storm.'
After Fort Lauderdale was deluged by heavy rainfall last year for the second time in 14 months, Glassman came up with his own 12-point plan and shared his proposal during a post-mortem on how Fort Lauderdale can better prep for flash floods caused by catastrophic rain.
'We're very vulnerable here,' Glassman said Friday. 'We know that. This (update on Tuesday) is all part of our heightened awareness of being ready for hurricane season. I think we've been on top of that. And the public is tuned in too, because it's just around the corner.'
To help residents get storm ready, Fort Lauderdale plans to host an 'Eye of the Storm' event on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Museum of Discovery and Science at 401 SW Second St.
Residents can get information on storm preparation kits and weather safety training at the free event, which will include interactive demonstrations and a chance to hear from first responders.
Thanks to the epic rainstorm of 2023, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue is now better prepared to conduct rescues in high water. The department now has a 100-person rescue team equipped with specialized gear and vehicles, including dry suits, john boats and seven Ford F-250 trucks.
To prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, the team recently went through training at a pond at Snyder Park.
City staff has prepared a detailed presentation they plan to share at the upcoming commission conference meeting on Tuesday.
Here are some details they plan to share:
Sandbags are being distributed the first Saturday and Sunday of each month from May to November between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at four locations: George English Park (1101 Bayview Drive), Holiday Park (1150 G. Harold Martin Drive), Mills Pond Park (2201 NW Ninth Ave.) and Floyd Hull Stadium (2800 SW Eighth Ave.).
Residents can collect up to five prefilled sandbags. Proof of residency is required. The sandbags are available while supplies last.
Residents who do not have their own garage can park free of charge in a public parking garage to minimize the risk of damage to their vehicle.
Fort Lauderdale plans to offer the following primary locations, though other parking garages could be made available if needed:
Riverwalk Center Garage: 150 SE Second Street; parking available on Levels 3 and 4 during tropical storms, hurricanes and king tide events;
Arts & Science District Garage: 101 SW Fifth Ave.; parking available during tropical storms, hurricanes and king tide events; no parking on the ground floor;
Las Olas Garage: 200 Las Olas Circle; parking available during king tide events at any non-reserved parking space.
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@ Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
