The historic rainfall in April that flooded the Edgewood neighborhood and closed the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport should not have surprised City of Fort Lauderdale officials. In 2018, the Stormwater Master Plan detailed the lack of drainage systems in Edgewood and the inadequate system in place to drain the airport north runway thorough the neighborhood. At a May 2021 civic association meeting, Assistant Public Works Director Nancy Gassman made the danger crystal clear.

During the May 2021 Council if Civic Association meeting, Gassman was asked about plans to address flooding in Edgewood. “There’s almost no infrastructure in Edgewood at all,” Gassman said. “Generally you see that there’s not a whole lot of infrastructure in this location.”

In fact, the 2018 Stormwater Master Plan said nearly all of the residential areas of Edgewood lacked sufficient stormwater drainage. Pipes to drain stormwater were located in an industrial section near State Road and in a private area along I-95. The Master Plan stated residential areas relied on a swale drainage system which was not “functioning adequately.”

In addition to calling for larger pipes in the eastern section of the neighborhood, the Stormwater Master Plan singled out the need to address the Osceola Canal which runs through Edgewood. In theory, airport runoff drains through the Osceola Canal into the Osceola Creek on the westside of I-95 and eventually into the New River.

The Master Plan stated, “Portions of Osceola Creek are in need of improvement and ongoing maintenance to provide better and more reliable flood control for the western portion of [Edgewood].

At the May 2021 meeting, Nancy Gassman admitted the Osceola Canal was a priority.

“And the water that comes off of the airport drains to the north towards [Edgewood] through the Osceola Canal,” Gassman said. “And one of the major projects we’re doing right now is dredging the Osceola Canal to improve the conveyance through [Edgewood].”

Between May 2022 and August 2022, road closures were announced as contractors began replacing older drain pipes in the eastern portion of Edgewood. This is the industrial section of the neighborhood.

Other phases of the improvement project were to run though 2023 with a targeted completion date of March 2024.

Were the residential areas getting a real drainage system?

Why does the City Of Fort Lauderdale promote a plan (improved swale drainage and raised roads) which drives floodwaters towards homes?

Edgewood and the airport have existed for decades. Why did the City allow this potential for catastrophic flooding to linger?

What if a Hurricane flooded the airport and needed supplies could not arrive?

Why doesn’t the Public Works Department focus on plans which prevent damage to homes and transportation infrastructure?