Fort Lauderdale.- South Florida remained on alert against a forecast for more rain after about a foot of precipitation fell in a matter of hours, causing widespread flooding, shutting down the Fort Lauderdale airport and turning highways into rivers.
Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Crews worked through the night to respond to rescue calls, but so far there have been no reports of injuries or deaths.
Stranded cars filled the streets around eastern Broward County, where the rains began Monday, with the heaviest downpours on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Crews cleared drains and used pumps to remove standing water. The population was told to avoid the roads until they were cleared.
Red Cross elements arrived at 5:00 a.m. Thursday and set up an area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, authorities said. The area also served as a reunification point for families.
Fort Lauderdale City Hall remained closed Thursday with flooding on the ground floor and without power. A tunnel on Federal Route 1 and under a river and a major avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale were also closed, along with some ramps to Interstate 95.
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport will remain closed until at least noon Thursday, with many flights canceled and some passengers stranded. Roads around the airport were flooded and congested from gridlocked traffic.
