© 2025 All Rights reserved WUSF
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WUSF's Wake Up Call
Our daily newsletter, delivered first thing weekdays, keeps you connected to your community with news, culture, national NPR headlines, and more.
Subscribe

In photos: A historic downpour floods Broward County

WLRN Public Media
Published April 14, 2023 at 1:56 PM EDT
People try and save valuables as they wade through high flood waters in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale south of State Road 84 just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023. South Florida was drenched by rain Wednesday causing major flooding and closing the airport.
Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
People try and save valuables as they wade through high flood waters in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale south of State Road 84 just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023. South Florida was drenched by rain Wednesday causing major flooding and closing the airport.

Here was the scene this week after Broward County received more than 2 feet of rain.

An unprecedented storm system dumped more than 2 feet of rain on Broward County on Wednesday, turning Fort Lauderdale's streets into rivers and leading to the closure of public schools and the city's airport. Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher said “nature has been unkind to us."

On Friday, a flood warning was expiring and the airport reopened, as residents, officials and business owners cleaned up the damage. Public schools remained shut, with officials hoping to reopen them on Monday.

Photos from our news partner, the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Associated Press.

People in boats make their way through high flood waters in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale south of State Road 84 just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
Joe Cavaretta
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
People in boats make their way through high flood waters in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale south of State Road 84 just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023.

Mike Trask rescues Buddy and Patti Trussel, and their dog from high flood waters in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale south of State Road 84 just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023. South Florida was drenched by rain Wednesday causing major flooding and closing the airport.
Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Mike Trask rescues Buddy and Patti Trussel, and their dog from high flood waters in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale south of State Road 84 just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023. South Florida was drenched by rain Wednesday causing major flooding and closing the airport.

Martina Spearing paddles her kayak as Olive Bishop walks through the water on Wiley Street in Hollywood on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after torrential rains flooded areas of South Florida.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Martina Spearing paddles her kayak as Olive Bishop walks through the water on Wiley Street in Hollywood on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after torrential rains flooded areas of South Florida.

Residents paddle and walk along a flooded road Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Over two feet of rain fell causing widespread flooding, closing the Fort Lauderdale airport and turning thoroughfares into rivers. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Marta Lavandier/AP
/
AP
Residents paddle and walk along a flooded road Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Over two feet of rain fell causing widespread flooding, closing the Fort Lauderdale airport and turning thoroughfares into rivers. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Adrian Vasquez and his son unload items from his flooded home into his car Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Vazquez's home sustained heavy damage after it was flooded by rain, destroying most of his families belongings. Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Marta Lavandier
/
AP
Adrian Vasquez and his son unload items from his flooded home into his car Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Vazquez's home sustained heavy damage after it was flooded by rain, destroying most of his families belongings. Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel help Rosalie Cobb, 80, get off a swamp buggy after she was rescued from her flooded home in the Edgewater neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 13, 2023. A reunification center for flood victims has been setup at the Winn Dixie plaza along State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel help Rosalie Cobb, 80, get off a swamp buggy after she was rescued from her flooded home in the Edgewater neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 13, 2023. A reunification center for flood victims has been setup at the Winn Dixie plaza along State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 13, 2023.

People wait in the terminal as flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.
Joe Cavaretta
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
People wait in the terminal as flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.

FILE - Trucks and a resident on foot make their way through receding floodwaters in the Sailboat Bend neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 13, 2023. Over 25 inches of rain fell in South Florida since Monday, causing widespread flooding. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
Rebecca Blackwell
/
AP
FILE - Trucks and a resident on foot make their way through receding floodwaters in the Sailboat Bend neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 13, 2023. Over 25 inches of rain fell in South Florida since Monday, causing widespread flooding. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.
Joe Cavaretta
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.

Flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.
Joe Cavaretta
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.

Flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday. The airport remained closed until noon.
Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday. The airport remained closed until noon.

American Airlines airplanes sit on the tarmac as flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.
Joe Cavaretta
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
American Airlines airplanes sit on the tarmac as flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023 after heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday.

A Sliver Airlines flight is prepared for take off. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened on Friday April 14, 2023 after torrential rains flooded areas of South Florida and caused the closure of the airport since late Wednesday.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
A Sliver Airlines flight is prepared for take off. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened on Friday April 14, 2023 after torrential rains flooded areas of South Florida and caused the closure of the airport since late Wednesday.

People in terminal 1 get ready for their flights. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened on Friday April 14, 2023 after torrential rains flooded areas of South Florida and caused the closure of the airport since late Wednesday.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel
/
South Florida Sun Sentinel
People in terminal 1 get ready for their flights. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened on Friday April 14, 2023 after torrential rains flooded areas of South Florida and caused the closure of the airport since late Wednesday.

Copyright 2023 WLRN 91.3 FM. To see more, visit WLRN 91.3 FM.

Tags
Weather Florida WeatherRainFort LauderdaleMiami
Related Stories
You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.
Donate Now