The airport, among the nation’s most vulnerable to flooding due to storms and sea level rise, can handle 17 inches of rain over three days. In April 2023 it got hit with 26 inches within 12 hours.

Inundated by floodwaters, the airport was forced to close for two days in April 2023.

The latest deluge in June didn’t shut down the airport, but it did lead to dozens of flights being canceled and delayed.

Prepping for new reality

Trantalis argues the county needs to install better drainage at the airport to help protect nearby neighborhoods.

“When the airport begins to accumulate water, it spills out into Osceola Creek, which is a gravity-driven pathway for water to flow into the other waterways,” he said. “And when it doesn’t have enough capacity, it overflows into those neighborhoods that are really close to that creek.”

Broward officials are well aware that flooding is a problem and is only going to get worse, said Steve Geller, a county commissioner and chair of the county’s water advisory board.

“We’re doing everything we can,” Geller said. “Historically, the canals drain out into the Intracoastal or the New River. Eventually the water winds up in the ocean. But over the last 30 years, the ocean has been rising.”

In 10 or 12 years, the ocean water will be at the same level as inland water, Geller said.

“That means whenever it rains, there will be nowhere to drain,” he said. “There is a way to fix this. The U.S. Army Corps owns the canals. They need giant pumps to pump the water uphill and they need higher banks or seawalls on their canals so you can put more water in them.”

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