ICYMI:
King Tides or Bad Plumbing?
As you sit in standing water on local roads or watch helplessly as water creeps toward your home, remember our stories from June where City of Fort Lauderdale Public Works Assistant Director Nancy Gassman admits the installation of tidal valves in drainage pipes causes street flooding during high tide.
And high tide happens twice a day.
Our original stories from June:
Fort Lauderdale Official Admits Tidal Valves Cause Flooding
June 11, 2023
WATCH City of Fort Lauderdale Assistant Public Works Director Nancy Gassman admit her tidal valve strategy causes flooding. After REDBROWARD posted this video, the official City of Fort Lauderdale YouTube channel commented.
They wrote, “Tidal valves had no impact on the April 2023 flooding in the City of Fort Lauderdale. When there is a rain event during a high tide, tidal valves remain closed to prevent tidal water from backing up into the storm drain system and flooding city streets. Once the tide recedes, the tidal valves are able to reopen and allow fresh rainwater to discharge into waterways.”
Fort Lauderdale Asst. Public Works Director Told Civic Leaders Streets Will Flood Because Rainwater Cannot Drain During High Tide
June 12, 2023
WATCH City of Fort Lauderdale Assistant Public Works Director Nancy Gassman admit her tidal valve strategy causes flooding. After REDBROWARD posted this video, the official City of Fort Lauderdale YouTube channel commented.
They wrote, “Tidal valves had no impact on the April 2023 flooding in the City of Fort Lauderdale. When there is a rain event during a high tide, tidal valves remain closed to prevent tidal water from backing up into the storm drain system and flooding city streets. Once the tide recedes, the tidal valves are able to reopen and allow fresh rainwater to discharge into waterways.”
“So, if it’s raining during a high tide, there’s no way for that water from the sky to get out of that street,” Gassman said. “Give it a few minutes, give it a few hours. As the high tide goes out that storm water is going to go out.”
Wait a few hours for flood waters to recede? This is exactly what happened to thousands of car owners, homeowners and travelers at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport who were impacted by the April 2023 flooding.
While our initial story never blamed the April 2023 flooding on tidal valves, how does the City Of Fort Lauderdale Youtube account know they had “no impact” on the flooding?
According to the City’s Youtube channel and its resilience program architect, tidal valves cause street flooding when it rains during high tide.
High tide occurs twice a day.
The City is well on its way to having nearly five hundred tidal valves installed across Fort Lauderdale.
Why is the assistant public works director seemingly okay with prolonged street flooding across Fort Lauderdale?
Does the City Of Fort Lauderdale Public Works Department prioritize resiliency programs and sea level rise over homeowners, business owners and drivers?
More to come…
