Heavy storms flood Hollywood streets

Heavy storms that moved across South Florida on Tuesday left flooded streets in Hollywood, with residents reporting standing water from Dewey Street to Washington Street and difficult conditions for drivers and pedestrians. CBS Miami said neighborhoods in Broward and Miami-Dade counties were cleaning up after the storms, which also brought downed trees and property damage elsewhere in the region. The National Weather Service office in Miami said scattered showers and storms were expected again this week, with heavy downpours among the main threats. ### Where in Hollywood did the flooding show up? Dewey Street and South 14th Avenue were among the locations where floodwater covered roads earlier this week, according to Local 10, which said Hollywood officials were surveying water levels there on Monday afternoon. CBS Miami reported that standing water stretched from Dewey Street to Washington Street after Tuesday’s storms, with drivers pushing through flooded roads. (cbsnews.com) Hollywood sits in a part of Broward County where low-lying streets can flood after intense rain, and the city’s own stormwater page says some neighborhoods flood multiple times a year. The city says heavy rains, tidal flooding and sea-level rise have strained an aging drainage system. ### What did residents say they were dealing with? Rich Digirolamo, a Hollywood resident interviewed by Local 10, said the flooding in his South Lakes area has worsened over time. “The flooding that I have now, I never had when I first moved here,” he said. (local10.com) He added that the area’s repeated flooding had become a familiar problem for neighbors. (hollywoodfl.org) CBS Miami reported that residents in Hollywood said the flooded streets made it hard even to walk outside. Its report described cleanup underway across South Florida a day after the storms. ### What weather alerts were in effect as the storms moved through? A National Weather Service flood advisory for Broward County said minor flooding was ongoing or expected shortly on Monday afternoon, with up to 2 inches of rain already fallen and as much as 1 more inch possible. (local10.com) The advisory listed Hollywood among the locations expected to experience flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas. (cbsnews.com) The Miami forecast office said this week’s storm pattern carried threats that included locally heavy rainfall, frequent lightning and isolated strong wind gusts. A separate Tuesday forecast from Local 10 said Miami-Dade and Broward counties could expect showers and storms to fade Tuesday evening after another active day. ### Why do the same streets keep flooding after heavy rain? (inws.ncep.noaa.gov) Hollywood’s stormwater master plan says the city’s drainage network was not designed for current conditions and that rapid development has outpaced some upgrades. The city says much of Hollywood lies at or near sea level, making gravity drainage less effective during intense rainfall and tidal events. Local 10’s reporting from the South Lakes area described the neighborhood as flood-prone, and residents there said they had not seen enough changes to ease the problem. (forecast.weather.gov) That account matched the city’s broader description of recurring flooding in multiple neighborhoods. ### What is the city doing now? Hollywood says its Comprehensive Citywide Stormwater Master Plan lays out more than 40 improvement zones and a 20- to 30-year rollout of projects that include drainage upgrades, pump stations and other flood-control work. (hollywoodfl.org) The city says the plan was built using flooding records, engineering analysis and community feedback. The city’s Public Utilities department directs residents to flood-safety resources and after-hours emergency contacts through its website. (local10.com) The National Weather Service in Miami said scattered showers and storms were expected again on Thursday, leaving the risk of more heavy downpours in South Florida. (hollywoodfl.org) (hollywoodfl.org)