flooding

Wherever you live in South Florida, the flooding you see right now is likely to get worse in the years ahead – despite billions of dollars in drainage projects intended to protect communities.

With hurricane season right around the corner, some Gulf Coast residents are working to elevate their homes for better flood protection. Will the rest of Florida follow?

As part of a continuing series investigating flood risks, the Herald consulted more than a dozen economists, academics and real estate professionals on when, how or even if the increasing threat will impact cost and demand.

Many City of North Miami residents are questioning the effectiveness of the city's proposed preliminary Stormwater Master Plan aimed at tackling the city'spersistent street and home flooding.

A Miami Herald investigation reveals that in Florida, it’s difficult for the public to identify flood-prone neighborhoods and nearly impossible for prospective buyers to find the history of individual homes.

In South Florida, rain was due to gradually increase in coverage, with the heaviest rainfall expected this afternoon through the late night hours.

The Fight the Flood program, which is open to apply to until April 25, offers up to $20,000 matched for flood adaptation projects in private homes and commercial buildings in Miami Beach, with a priority on historic properties.

While the state is offering to pay for about 75% of the elevation cost through federal grants, one resident questions how stable the funding from Washington really is.

Said one resident: "I've got a home here that's now not even sitting on its foundation correctly because of the water, and I don't know what to do."

Eileen Bicaba and her husband have faced severe flooding in North Miami since 2018, which they attribute to nearby development projects.

For the first time, a federal study calculated the risk from rising groundwater on a warming planet. South Florida represents the vast majority of that risk, with about 7.5 million people and $750 billion dollars in property under threat.

South Florida streets could be underwater this week, without a tropical storm or hurricane in sight.