‘Nothing is Ever the Same Since Then’: 2 Years Since Historic Flooding Hit Fort Lauderdale

As the rainy season returns, many Fort Lauderdale residents are reliving the trauma of the historic April 2023 flood that devastated neighborhoods and left parts of the city underwater. For Kristen Slingerland, the memories are vivid and haunting. “We had a hard rain a couple days ago; it gives you PTSD,” said Slingerland, who lives in the Edgewood neighborhood. “All of us are on high alert. We are constantly watching that floodgate right there.”

Surviving the 2023 Flood

On April 12, 2023, Fort Lauderdale experienced one of its worst weather disasters in history — 26 inches of rain fell within hours, overwhelming storm drains and flooding homes. Slingerland, her husband, and their 10-year-old son were forced to wade through feet of water to reach safety the following day. Now, a year later, their home has been rebuilt and the family has welcomed a new baby. But the emotional scars remain. “When it starts to rain hard, I want to pick things up off the floor — that’s the first thing I think about,” she said. “I don’t want to lose anything again.”

First Responders Prepare for Future Floods

In response to the 2023 storm, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission carried out more than 900 rescues. Emergency teams pulled people from submerged homes, guiding them to safety in difficult and dangerous conditions. Vincent Pangallo, a driver-engineer with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, recalls the chaos of those rescues. “Lots of times, the first thing they want to do is jump on you, attack the boat,” he said. “You have multiple people at one time, and that’s when the rescuers become victims.” This week, more than 25% of the department underwent high-water rescue training. The goal: ensure readiness for another flood disaster. Crews are now equipped with updated boats, dry suits, and enhanced gear to navigate submerged neighborhoods.

Learning to Read the Water

Part of the training focuses on teaching first responders how to safely operate in floodwaters. Storm drains and manhole covers can pop off during intense rain, creating invisible hazards. “In the classroom, we’re teaching the guys how to read the water, what to look for,” Pangallo said. Understanding the current, spotting debris, and identifying hidden dangers are all key elements of the new training.

A Community on Edge

For residents like Slingerland, preparation brings comfort, but also underscores the reality of what’s at stake. “I hope they never have to use that training,” she said. “No, nothing has ever been the same since then.” As Fort Lauderdale enters another rainy season, both citizens and first responders are doing what they can to prepare — hoping history doesn’t repeat itself, but ready if it does.