HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 076-2020 - Rainfall and Local Street Flooding Event May 24-26, 2020
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OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 076-2020
To: Mayor Gabriel Groisman and Members of the Village Council
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager
Date: May 29, 2020
Subject: Rainfall and Local Street Flooding Event May 24-26, 2020
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to provide you with information regarding
the rainfall and local street flooding event which began during the early morning hours of
Sunday May 24 and continued until midnight on May 26, 2020.
As you are aware, the Village experienced a significant amount of rainfall during this period
which resulted in local street flooding along the Collins Avenue, 96 Street, and within the
Gated Residential Community.
This rainfall was due to the disturbance which was positioned over much of South Florida
and along with Bal Harbour Village, many areas of Miami Dade County experienced
significant street flooding. This weather system also impacted the eastern coast of the U.S.,
as a named Tropical Storm, Bertha.
In terms of impact, according to the National Weather Service, Miami, FL from 12:01 am
May 01 to midnight May 23, Miami received a total of 4.18 inches of rainfall, with the
historic average rainfall for the entire month of May, recorded at 4.08 inches. From, 12:01
am Sunday May 24 to midnight Tuesday May 26, 14.67 inches of rain was received in
Miami. The greatest 24-hour period recorded 7.16 inches of rainfall from 12:01 am
yesterday May 26, to midnight, with much of this total received in just four hours. As of the
last data received, from May 1, to midnight May 26, Miami received 18.88 inches of rain
with little to no rainfall occurring through the today May 29, 2020. The last major storm
event which affected Miami Dade County, Hurricane Irma in 2017, produced 8 to 10 inches
of rain in the urban portions the County.
During this rain event, 7 staff assigned to the Parks and Public Spaces Department worked
a total of one hundred forty (140)-manhours to manage both the Storm Water and Sanitary
Sewer Systems in order mitigate the effects of this rainfall. In addition to the actions taken
to remove storm water from the road surfaces such as operating the storm water stations,
clearing debris from drains and monitoring system water levels, the Sanitary System
management is a greater critical activity. When rainfall covers sanitary system structures in
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roadways for extended periods of time, rainwater can enter the system and cause sanitary
system overflows as occurred this past Monday at the Miami Dade County North
wastewater treatment plant, in which 1.8 million gallons of sewage spilled due in part to
the heavy rains. I am happy to report that the Village did not experience any sanitary
system spills due to the diligent efforts of our staff.
In addition to the volume of rain, the time of the rainfall during several high tide periods
impacted the removal of the rainwater from the roads due to the tide water covering the
storm water outfalls which move rainfall volumes in excess of two inches to Biscayne Bay.
While many areas of the Village experienced periods of street flooding, most of the Village
roads were generally free of standing water after less then five hours during these heavy
rain periods. However, two areas within the Residential Gated Community, the intersection
of Park and Camden Drives and the Bal Cross and Park Drives intersection, held standing
rainwater on roadway surfaces for extended periods of time due to existing system
deficiencies and ongoing Utility System construction activities. As part of the Village Utility
System Rehabilitative efforts, both of these locations are currently in design for one area
and under construction in the other. Upon completion of planned renovations, the storm
water system in these areas are expected to function efficiently.
If you have, any questions please contact Director of Parks and Open Spaces John
Oldenburg at joldenburg@balharbourfl.gov, 305.993.7368 or 954-205-9684.
JO/JMG