BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for Broward County in South Florida after the area saw more than 25 inches of rain in 24 hours.
DeSantis’ declaration orders the Director of the Division of Emergency Management to execute the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency.
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I have declared a State of Emergency for Broward County in response to severe flooding. @FLSERT has resources on the ground and is providing aid.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 13, 2023
Residents in these areas should follow all orders from local officials and stay away from floodwaters.
The City of Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Crews had worked through the night to attend rescue calls, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.
DeSantis said Florida’s Division of Emergency Management is on the ground and providing aid to the county.
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The Red Cross arrived at 5 a.m. Thursday and set up a staging area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, officials said.
Broward County schools canceled classes Thursday, including after-school and extracurricular activities.
Click here to read DeSantis’ full executive order.
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