Isaac leaves So. Fla. neighborhoods flooded

LAUDERHILL, Fla. (WSVN) -- Flooding as a result of Tropical Storm Isaac is affecting a major roadway as well as neighborhoods.

The Sawgrass Expressway's southbound entrance and exit ramps in Sunrise at the Atlantic Boulevard and Oakland Park Boulevard interchanges had to be closed late Monday afternoon due to rising flood waters. The rising waters resulted from downpours of rain from the storms feeding Tropical Storm Isaac as it headed away from South Florida.

The Department of Transportation shut down the ramps fearing that cars would stall in the rising waters, causing traffic congestion during the afternoon commute. The ramps reopened to traffic at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The storm first hit South Florida over the weekend, leaving wind and storm damage. Besides fallen trees and the impacts they left, the cleanup also included flooded streets.

In Sunrise, Matthias Williams has a new mote around his home thanks to Tropical Storm Isaac. It's been seven years since he has seen this kind of flooding. "This was a lot. We got a lot of rain last night. Normally we get ... one or two inches really hard. It's never like this, but today it was tremendous," he said.

In a northwestern neighborhood of Lauderhill, along 46th Street, between University to Pine Island, residents are dealing with some serious flooding. Many people's homes are being affected with flooded streets, as cars passing through stir up wakes that can send water into homes. Police are trying to restrict traffic to only residents and commercial vehicles.

Deborah Vaval thanked 7News for getting her the information to get her ration of sandbags. "I have Channel 7, the app, on my phone, so when I heard it, I told my mom, because we have the garage door, the water is coming under it," she said. "We were gonna drive to the beach to get some sand."

South Florida Water Management is trying to deal with the issue, according to city officials. Complicating matters, however, is that a lot of the flooding comes from overflowing canals in the area. The water might take a while to recede without mechanical help, so the city is trying to pump the water out.

Some residents who have lived in the area for 15 to 20 years said the effects of Isaac, after only a matter of hours, have left them with flooding the likes of which some have never seen. Dan Ross is one of those who lives in the area. He has three pumps working to keep the water out of his home.

The main concern right now, however, are the wakes caused by cars. Some residents have put up their own barriers to slow passing cars. "People driving too quick, and the actual wakes are going into the homes and into the garages," said Joel Crosby.

Lauderhill Police have also put up cones to help in that matter by keeping cars out of the neighborhood.

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