Dear neighbors:
Unusually high tides known as “king tides” occur each year between September and December. These tides have historically affected low-lying areas that are prone to roadway flooding and the effects of sea level rise.
Going forward, king tides are predicted to occur:
- October 5-11
- October 20-21
- November 3-9
- December 2-7
What the City is Doing to Prepare?
The City is using stormwater fees to invest in long-term strategies to adapt to seasonal king tides and the inevitable impact of sea level rise on our coastal community. Your City Commission is proactive in keeping our neighbors and visitors safe. Since last year, we have raised select seawalls, installed additional tidal valves, and made drainage improvements to reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of tidal flooding in vulnerable areas.
One such project is the new seawall in Rio Vista along Cordova Road between SE 7 Street and SE 12 Street. This seawall measures 4.5 feet above the average high tide and was completed ahead of this year’s first expected king tide event. We look forward to the protection it will provide for motorists traveling in the area as well as for neighbors living along Cordova Road and the isles to the east.
We have had great success with similar projects in other areas of the City. The elevation of 900 linear feet of seawall at the entryway to Isle of Palms on the south side of Las Olas Boulevard was completed before the 2020 king tides. Despite significantly high tides last year, the elevated seawall prevented tidal inundation of the roadway.
Elevating public seawalls is just one step in making our community more resilient to sea level rise and tidal flooding. The City is also inspecting flooding potentially caused by private seawalls and requiring property owners to elevate their seawalls to meet City code standards. Together, investments by the City and our residents can help secure lives and protect property from tidal inundation.
Your City government continues to address the need for an improved stormwater infrastructure. Over the next five years, we are investing $200 million into critical stormwater projects in the areas identified as most at-risk in our Stormwater Master Plan: Dorsey Riverbend, Durrs, Edgewood, Progresso Village, River Oaks, Victoria Park, and the greater Southeast Isles area of the Las Olas Isles and Rio Vista.
How Neighbors Can Prepare:
Neighbors who live close to the water or in low-lying areas should take the following precautions before the start of king tides season:
- Evaluate your property’s readiness and prepare flood protection measures, if needed, such as sandbags to use at door thresholds and garage doors.
- Review your flood insurance policy to understand your coverage. Additional information on flood insurance, flood insurance rate maps, floodplain management regulations, and ideas to protect your property from flood damage can be found on the City website at fortlauderdale.gov/flood.
- Review flood safety tips at fortlauderdale.gov/kingtide.
During a king tide event:
- Do not drive through flooded areas. Turn around and find an alternate safe route to minimize damage to your vehicle and surrounding property.
- If you must drive through tidal flood water, rinse the undercarriage of your vehicle to remove any salt water and minimize corrosive damage.
- If you experience flooding on your street, make sure storm drains are not blocked and remove waste collection carts as quickly as possible after they are emptied or wait until your next scheduled collection day to put them out.
- If you live on a street where the City has installed a tidal valve, ponding may occur if it rains during high tide. Be assured that your tidal valve is working and the ponding will subside as the tide goes out and allows the valve to open and release the rainwater.
- If you encounter flood water, rinse off to remove the saltwater and minimize exposure to pollutants in the ponded water.
City crews will be out inspecting vulnerable areas during this time. We are taking standard precautions as we prepare for and respond to the upcoming tides by clearing storm drains and catch basins, inspecting tidal valves, and monitoring pump station operations. If you experience unusual flooding or impassable roads during a tidal event, please make your first phone call to report concerns to the City’s 24-Hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000 or via our Lauderserv mobile app.
To date, we have made significant progress at reinforcing our stormwater infrastructure and reducing the impact of tidal flooding in our neighborhoods. The City is dedicated to continuing to do so as we prepare for increased adverse weather patterns and sea level rise. This can-do Commission recognizes resiliency as one of our top priorities year after year and we will continue to make sound decisions to advance our shared commitment to everyone who calls Fort Lauderdale home.
Dean J. Trantalis, Mayor