LABELLE, FL. -- Already awash in rainfall from tropical storms Fay and Hanna, the South Florida Water Management District is bracing for potential impacts from Hurricane Ike.
The threat of high winds and, more significantly, heavy rainfall is of serious concern for the entire 16-county district already saturated with the deluge from back-to-back tropical storms. Tropical Storm Fay alone dropped about a month's worth of rain in just six days.
In response, canals in strategic areas have been lowered. Several pump stations are operating or on standby. Water control structures on the east coast are releasing water to tide to make room for more storm water. Emergency mangers are monitoring the weather 24-hours a day. The SFWMD is also coordinating with local governments, which operate flood control systems for many of their residents, and with state and federal authorities.
"So far this storm season, the District's system has prevented mass flooding where possible and held up very well," said George Horne, SFWMD Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance. "We are still very concerned about the potential for heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ike and we will do everything possible to prepare and protect the public."
Just a month ago, the District was emerging from a record drought, which saw the driest back-to-back calendar years on record in 2006 and 2007, based on records dating back to 1932. A combined rainfall deficit of more than 20 inches was seen. This left the District with worries about the water supply but in a good position to handle potentially heavy rainfall heading into the 2008 storm season.
Tropical Storm Fay began impacting South Florida on August 18. In just six days from August 18 to August 23, Fay dropped an average of 7.5 inches of rain across the district, with as much as 15 inches in spots. Approximately 1.5 inches is normal during a six day period.
District meteorologists noted the following approximate rainfall average totals:
• 8 inches in the Lake Okeechobee Basin
• 8.5 inches in the Kissimmee Basin
• 10 inches in Martin/St. Lucie counties
• 6.5 inches in Palm Beach
Water Conservation Areas and Storm Water Treatment areas filled. The rainfall swelled August's total to an average of 12.69 inches district wide. The 30-year average for that month is 7.54 inches. The massive amount of rain created a deluge of stormwater runoff. The runoff alone sent water to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries even before the U.S. Army Corps began releasing water from Lake Okeechobee to protect the Herbert Hoover Dike and residents surrounding the lake.
The Corps took action after the lake rose more than two feet in a single week for the first time in recorded history, based on records dating back to 1931. With only a small respite, Tropical Storm Hanna quickly became a threat. While the storm spared South Florida a direct hit, rainfall was significant. Hanna dropped approximately 1 inch of rain district wide on September 4 and 5, and as much as 6 inches in some areas.
With Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Josephine following closely behind, South Florida residents should already be prepared and monitor conditions closely.
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