WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — South Florida’s flood recovery is testing a regional system of canals, pumps and water-control structures as local neighborhoods work to drain standing water and assess damage.
The South Florida Water Management District says its pump stations in the affected area are operating around the clock. The district is managing canals to keep the regional flood-control system at full capacity, using pumps and spillway gates to move water away from communities and businesses, and positioning high-volume pumps to help local areas. It is also coordinating with local drainage operators and emergency officials.
The district’s system includes more than 2,300 miles of canals and 2,200 miles of levees and berms across 16 counties. But flood control is shared: SFWMD operates the regional system, while cities, counties and local drainage districts manage smaller neighborhood systems that feed into it. That means the agency responsible for a flooded street or neighborhood can vary by location…