What the City Does to Prepare

The City actively plans for high tides and king tides in the short term; and sea-level rise in the long term. The following lists provide an overview of steps the City takes, depending on existing conditions, to mitigate localized flooding. 

 City Steps to Address High Tides and King Tides

• Check and clean storm drains and catch basins to remove any blockages to facilitate drainage and minimize water accumulation
  
• Monitor pump stations to ensure the stormwater system is operating efficiently
• Bury seaweed in the sand to stabilize the beach up to a certain threshold of wave impact
• Implement temporary road closures on flooded streets as a precautionary safety measure

City Steps to Address Sea-Level Rise

• Adopted new flood insurance rate maps and updated the floodplain ordinance to establish higher regulatory standards for future development to minimize vulnerability to flooding
• Incorporating sea-level rise as planning criteria for infrastructure improvements
• Working with Broward County to renourish the beach to mitigate wave impacts

How the Community Can Prepare 

Be vigilant during high tides and king tides. Take the time to review important safety tips, evaluate your property's readiness, and review your flood insurance policy. 

During high tides, neighbors are reminded to closely monitor their waste carts, and to remove them from the street as quickly as possible after they are emptied. If your street floods, you may want to store your sanitation carts in a safe and secure location until your next regularly Garbage and Recycling scheduled collection day. 

How Neighbors Can Stay Safe

• Avoid walking through flood waters, it is dangerous and can be a health hazard                                
• Avoid driving through flooded areas, turn around and find another way; in addition to being a threat to life safety, the salt water can lead to both short and long term damage to your vehicle
• Follow posted road closure and detour signs 
• If you drive through flooded areas, please note that creating waves can cause additional damage to surrounding landscaping and property
• Be careful around manhole covers, as they can become dislodged by the high tides  
• Boaters are advised that high tides cause lower clearance under fixed bridges, check the tides before leaving the dock

What is a Tide?

The word “tide” is a generic term used to define the rise and fall of sea level with respect to land. Tides are influenced by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun. In addition, tides are affected by other factors such as: coastline configuration, local water depth, wind, and weather conditions. Twice a day, tides peak to a high and low water level, commonly referred to as “high tide” and “low tide.”

Knowledge of the tide times and predicted heights are important to various applications such as: emergency preparedness; maritime navigation; the construction of bridges, docks, and seawalls; and the operation of wastewater and storm water collection systems. Tide information is indispensable to the fishing, boating, surfing, and other water-related industries. Currently, this information is critical to understanding flooding which impacts the City during weather events, particularly in low-lying areas.

Tide Predictions

Tide predictions can differ from the actual sea level rise or fall that occurs. Predicted tidal heights are those expected during average weather conditions. When weather conditions differ from what is considered average, water levels can be significantly altered. High tides are produced from the flow of water toward positions on Earth where the gravitational forces of the sun and moon are the strongest. Low tides are created at a point midway between the two positions. The alternating between high and low tides is caused by the daily rotation of the Earth. There are peak high tides in each month. Typically South Florida and Dania Beach experience the highest tides during the months of September, October, and November.

These high tides may cause ocean and canal waters to rise above elevations of land, including streets and seawalls in low-lying areas.

FLOOD ZONES

Know Your Flood Zone, insure and protect your property.

Useful Resources 

You may visit the following links for additional information:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Tide Table
• NOAA Tides & Currents

The public may contact the City’s Customer Service Center at 954-924-6800 with questions or concerns or to report incidents of flooding. Customer Service may also be reached via AskDania, the City’s mobile application.