Floods drown southern Florida counties; DeSantis declares emergency
- Tropical disturbance has brought a rare flash flood emergency
- DeSantis declared a state of emergency in several Florida counties
- Miami Weather Service: "Life-threatening flooding is now ongoing"
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TAMPA, Fla. (NewsNation) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Wednesday for several southern Florida counties due to flooding.
A tropical disturbance has brought a rare flash flood emergency to much of southern Florida as residents prepared to weather more heavy rainfall Thursday and Friday.
The state of emergency was declared for Sarasota, Broward, Collier, Lee and Miami-Dade counties after a tropical disturbance dubbed Invest 90L brought heavy rain to parts of the state starting Tuesday.
The National Weather Service office in Miami issued increasingly dire warnings.
“Life-threatening flooding is now ongoing,” the service said Wednesday on the social platform X. “Please stay off the roadways and get to higher ground.”
Wednesday’s downpours and subsequent flooding blocked roads, floated vehicles and delayed the Florida Panthers on their way to Stanley Cup games in Canada against the Edmonton Oilers.
Matthew Koziol, Matías Ricci, Manuel Ricci and Raúl Fernández travel by raft through a flooded street caused by heavy rain on North Bay Road in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: Evacuees are helped from a City of Hollywood search and rescue truck by SWAT team members as they are evacuated from a flooded area on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
Water seeps into Sam Demarco’s home as a heavy downpour floods his neighborhood on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
A City of Miami Public Works employee waves towards a vehicle driving through a flooded street in Edgewater along N.E. 23rd Street in Miami, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
Oscar Gonzalez rides his motorcycle to avoid the flooded street along N.E. 23rd Street in Miami, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
Hector Guifarro climbs around to the front of his vehicle to avoid the flooded street in front of St. Edwards Apartments in Edgewater along N.E. 23rd Street in Miami, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
A man makes his way down the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk as heavy rain falls over parts of South Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
A driver blinks their hazard lights as heavy rain falls over parts of South Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
Laura Collinhofer holds an umbrella after moving her cars to higher ground as heavy rain falls over parts of South Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
A man works to clear debris from a flooded street as heavy rain falls over parts of South Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
Davie Moreno walks through a flooded street at Holiday Acres Mobile Home Park in Hialeah, Fla. on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.The annual rainy season has arrived with a wallop in much of Florida, where a disorganized disturbance of tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico has caused street flooding and triggered tornado watches but so far has not caused major damage or injuries.(Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
A “for sale” sign is posted in a flooded area of Holiday Acres Mobile Home Park in Hialeah, Fla. on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The annual rainy season has arrived with a wallop in much of Florida, where a disorganized disturbance of tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico has caused street flooding and triggered tornado watches but so far has not caused major damage or injuries. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
Drew Donner walks down Taft Street as heavy rain floods the nearby neighborhood on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. The annual rainy season has arrived with a wallop in much of Florida, where a disorganized disturbance of tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico has caused street flooding and triggered tornado watches but so far has not caused major damage or injuries. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
Sam Demarco makes his way through his wet living room after a heavy downpour flooded his home on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
Mike Viesel and his dog Humi, wait in his flooded car for a tow truck after their car stalled out on Taft Street due to heavy rain flooding the neighborhood on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. The annual rainy season has arrived with a wallop in much of Florida, where a disorganized disturbance of tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico has caused street flooding and triggered tornado watches but so far has not caused major damage or injuries. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
Victor Corone, 66, pushes his wife Maria Diaz, 64, in a wheelchair through more than a foot of flood water on 84th street in Miami Beach, Fla. on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The annual rainy season has arrived with a wallop in much of Florida, where a disorganized disturbance of tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico has caused street flooding and triggered tornado watches but so far has not caused major damage or injuries. (AL Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
A bicyclist goes through flooded streets on Stirling Road near Federal Highway in Hollywood, Fla., Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) 
An airplane is seen on the runway as heavy rain falls over the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Many flights were either canceled or delayed due to the bad weather. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
James Rodriguez talks with his wife, Diana, after their flight to Cancun was canceled at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport due to heavy downpours across South Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
People attempt to cross a flooded street in Miami Beach, Fla., Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
People walk past traffic backed up along Collins Avenue due to road closures and flooding in Miami Beach, Fla., Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) 
Jim Comunale and Pam Mervos walk down Arthur Street as heavy rain floods the surrounding neighborhood on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: A vehicle sits in flood waters on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: Ceasar Alban looks out at the flood water surrounding hishome on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: Flood waters surround a home on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: Ildemaro Srateral leaves his car behind after flood waters made it inoperable on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: A member of the City of Hollywood SWAT team looks for people who may need help being evacuated from a flooded area on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: A vehicle is driven through a flooded street on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – JUNE 12: Iraida Rodriguez carries her dog, Benji, as she evacuates from her flooded home on June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida. As tropical moisture passes through the area, areas have become flooded due to the heavy rain. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“Preliminary reports indicate that the rainfall and flooding has affected and may continue to impact the operational capability of critical infrastructure, including major interstates, state and county roadways, airports, schools, and other critical infrastructure throughout these counties,” the executive order from DeSantis reads.
Sarasota officials said they responded to about 80 calls for stranded vehicles Tuesday evening. Several businesses also flooded. One neighborhood received 8 inches of rain in a matter of three hours.
Sarasota also set a record Tuesday for the most rainfall in one hour.
The state of emergency is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 60 days unless it’s extended.
The disorganized storm system was pushing across Florida from the Gulf of Mexico at roughly the same time as the early June start of hurricane season, which this year is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory amid concerns that climate change is increasing storm intensity.
Dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The NHL’s Florida Panthers were delayed more than three hours from departing Fort Lauderdale for their nearly six-hour flight to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Associated Press and NewsNation affiliate WFLA contributed to this report.
