While parts of Miami-Dade saw up to nine inches of rain that — predictably, if troublingly — inundated streets in flood-prone neighborhoods like Brickell and Edgewater, residents of Fort Lauderdale's own enclave of Edgewood 25 miles to the north suddenly found themselves swamped by nearly 25 inches of rain in 24 hours.
"Driving on airboats through our streets was an interesting phenomenon," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis summed up during a press briefing the following morning, during which he referred to the city as the Venice of Florida. "No city could have planned for this."
Large parts of the city have been underwater because of the unprecedented amount of rainfall," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis summed up in declaring a state of emergency the following morning. "Emergency management crews worked continuously through the night to attend rescue calls. I give my heartfelt thanks to the police officers, firefighters, public works employees, and other city staffers that worked hard through the storm."
Days later, many inhabitants of Edgewood and other Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods say their homes remain uninhabitable. We asked New Times contributing photographer and Broward County resident Michele Eve Sandberg to check in with residents and file a report in visual form.
A tow truck removes a flooded car in Fort Lauderdale's Edgewood neighborhood on April 16, 2023.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Next to that sign is an emergency pump that has been installed to remove the unprecedented inundation.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Jasmine Jacques is staying at a friend's place after the house she shared with a roommate was destroyed. Jacques says she doesn't understand why she pays a sewage fee in an area that lacks adequate storm drainage.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
A US Postal Service driver attempts to deliver mail in Fort Lauderdale's Edgewood neighborhood.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Streets remained flooded in Edgewood on April 16, 2023, four days after historic thunderstorms dumped nearly 26 inches of rain on the area in 24 hours.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Dayshawn Jones looks through broken blinds from inside the apartment he shares with his mother, Natasha.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Natasha Jones shares a photo of the inundation of the apartment where she, her son Dayshawn, and their dog Cookie have lived since October 2022.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Natasha Jones (right) with son Dayshawn and their dog Cookie. The apartment they rent was damaged by the mid-April flood.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Ashley Bright (right) says the flooding, which rose higher than the baseboards in their home, was caused by a lack of drainage. She, her husband Cedric (left), and their dog can't stay in the house, owing to the stench.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Edgewood resident Cedric Bright surveys the flood damage inside his home.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
Edgewood resident Eileen O'Connor says her home's flooring and wood furniture were destroyed in the flood.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg
