Commissioner Steve Glassman has presented a plan for immediate action as king tides cause increasingly frequent flooding in Fort Lauderdale. Water is covering streets that previously did not flood.
As the Sun Sentinel reported on Nov. 12, king tides are flooding streets that until now had stayed dry. Cars are being stranded on the roads. Las Olas Boulevard was recently closed for two days. On Oct. 28, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department announced temporary closures of the eastern stretch of Las Olas because of flooding.
Glassman represents a district that includes the barrier island and the flood-prone Las Olas Isles. He said residents had been flooding him with calls and messages asking for urgent action. He presented his plan at a city commission meeting. In a letter to Acting City Manager Chris Cooper, he wrote that the city’s capital improvement program is working but will not reach every street before the next high tide. In his view, three measures could help neighborhoods right now.
Glassman said residents of Mola Avenue in Las Olas Isles are willing to pay to raise their own road. He would also like the city to do a better job of informing residents about king tides and what to expect in the coming years. His proposals also include a clear path for obtaining permits so property owners can take action before next year’s high tides.
City spokeswoman Ashley Doussard told the newspaper that Fort Lauderdale remains committed to fighting flooding and to building resilience against king tides and sea level rise. That work is proceeding alongside investments in stormwater drainage infrastructure.
NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, forecast that king tides will occur on at least 40 days in 2026. The Sun Sentinel reported last week that the next expected king tide falls on Nov. 22–28. Flooded or impassable roads can be reported to the city’s customer service center at 954-828-8000.
Source: Sun Sentinel
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Source: Słoneczne Radio
