On the day Governor Ron DeSantis reduced budgets for water projects, Florida communities were hit by heavy rain and flooding.
DeSantis officially signed the state budget on June 12, cutting the plan by almost $1 billion, including around $205 million in stormwater, wastewater, and sewer projects, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
He also declared a state of emergency in Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Sarasota counties after the downpour caused significant damage to crucial infrastructure like major interstates, roads, schools, and airports.
Democratic State Senator Jason Pizzo criticized the cuts, saying, “As I’m stuck here in a Brightline because of flooding, all those stormwater projects he cut right now look pretty silly,” as noted by the Associated Press.
While DeSantis isn’t against these projects, he prefers local communities to submit funding applications through the Department of Environmental Protection, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The cuts affect stormwater repairs, shoreline revitalization, and mains replacement, which are essential for mitigating flooding. Upgrading main components can enhance water handling capacity, while newer materials offer increased strength.
Repairing stormwater systems helps prevent flooding by managing water efficiently and avoiding leakage through cracks. Revitalizing shorelines utilizes natural barriers like wetlands and vegetation buffers to reduce erosion and runoff.
The National Weather Service advisory warns of excessive runoff in flood-prone areas like the Florida Keys, potentially leading to flooding. Parts of southeast, southern, and southwest Florida also face flood watches until Friday evening.
Areas under alert may experience street flooding, river overflows, and structures inundation. Images of cars submerged and water rescues have been reported by local media due to the heavy rainfall.
The Weather Prediction Center warns of moderate rain threats until Friday morning, gradually decreasing with time. The risk is minimal from Friday to Saturday morning.