For those of us living in South Florida, hurricanes and tropical storms are part of the landscape, so we should all have a plan.  According to Philip Klotzbach and William Gray of the Department of Atmospheric Science of Colorado State University, the 2011 Hurricane Season will be more active than average.   Hurricane season starts on June 1 and doesn’t end until November 30.  With the peak of the season occurring from mid-September to late October, we are not out of the woods yet.

Wind damage is often the primary concern, and rightfully so.  Hurricane Andrew taught Floridians to beef up building codes and take the threat of wind damage seriously.  Thankfully, most people are now aware of the importance of having shutters or impact resistant windows for their homes and/or businesses.  A less well-known fact which has been recently highlighted by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee is that inland flooding can cause serious damage and loss of life.  In fact, in the last 30 years, inland flooding has been responsible for more than half the deaths associated with tropical cyclones in the United States. (source: http://www.floridadisaster.org/EMTOOLS/Severe/hurricanes.htm)

For those of you who read last month’s newsletter about the drought, you may be saying to yourself “wait a minute, are we supposed to buy this?”  Actually, yes, that’s just what we are saying.  According the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), dramatic changes in the weather are just some of the exciting things about living here.  Drought and flood can be experienced when we least expect it.

Because South Florida is low and flat, we rely on a regional flood control system consisting of a system of major canals that is operated by the SFWMD.  Smaller secondary canals connect to the SFWMD canals.  Finally, neighborhood swales, ditches and pipes connect to the secondary canals.  Heavy rain from a single rainfall event, tropical storms or hurricanes can cause the system to become overwhelmed.  In order for drainage systems to function properly, regular repair and maintenance is required.  Grates, inlets and culverts should be free of trash and debris.  Swales must be mowed on a regular basis and may need to be re-graded or replanted from time to time.  Homeowner’s associations and commercial property owners are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their own facilities.  Finally, over time and particularly if not properly maintained, these systems may no longer function properly or provide adequate drainage. 

While we may not have control over the weather, we can all do our part to make sure that our local drainage systems are properly designed, permitted, constructed, and maintained.  Contact our team of experienced engineers at Westhorp & Associates, Inc. to discuss your stormwater project needs.

Oh, and by the way, even with all the recent rainfall, we are still in drought conditions with Lake Okeechobee about 3.5 feet below normal for this time of year!