Parts Of Broward Struggle To Dry Out
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Sections of Broward County are still 'underwater' thanks to torrential rains from Tropical Storm Isaac.
Street flooding was reported in a number of cities including Oakland Park, western Davie, Lauderhill and Hollywood.
Monday the Sawgrass Expressway southbound entrance and exit ramps at the Atlantic Boulevard and Oakland Park Boulevard interchanges were closed due to rising flood waters. Those ramps were re-opened Tuesday morning at 6 a.m.
Jerry Seleznow's home in Lauderhill is surrounded by water – literally. He said he hasn't left his home since Isaac's rains began on Sunday. He said he was afraid to drive his car through the flooded streets. The flood waters also brought an unexpected visitor to Seleznow's home. In his backyard was a large alligator.
"That's scary, all these years and I've never seen an alligator," said Ann Marie Ruddock.
No one in the neighborhood was really all that surprised because most of the water flooding their yards and streets came from two overflowing canals.
"This is such a drama, especially all day yesterday, I haven't been able to leave the house," said Ruddock.
Across the street, Richard Glick said he's spent the day pumping water out of his pool so all the excess water has some place to go beside inside his home.
"We've lived in this house since 1986 and this is the fourth or fifth time we've had it this bad," said Glick who said water has gotten into his garage twice and his house once.
The City of Lauderhill is trying to help out their residents. They're handing out sandbags to help them protect their homes from flood waters.
"We're in one of the unfortunate communities in Lauderhill where the water unfortunately didn't recede and the canals are overflowing," resident Scott Colbert said. "I've got about 3 feet left before the water comes in to my garage."
At NW 50 Street and NW 82 Terrace, a Lauderhill police officer patrolled the street, limiting entry to locals only.
Water-filled roads not the only sign of Isaac's passage. In Plantation, people in the Cocoranda community were without power for more than 16 hours.
In Hollywood, a pregnant woman suffered minor injuries when part of her ceiling caved in.
Her neighbor at the duplex was also forced from her home.
"I'm grateful this was a tropical storm and not a Category 1 or Category 2," said Jonelle Jean-Paul. "That would have been a catastrophe."
The landlord of that duplex said he was aware of the roof leak and had been asking to fix it for some time. Jean-Paul said she's been waiting for months.
Because of all the rain from Sunday through Monday, the county's Health Department is reminding residents about how important it is to eliminate mosquito-breeding sources and to take precautions against mosquito bites. West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Dengue Fever are known diseases carried by mosquitoes.
