MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - Several neighborhoods across South Florida have been left flooded as drivers and residents deal with Tropical Storm Eta’s aftermath.
Early Monday morning, vehicles in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood could be seen driving slow through the flooded streets, as those who frequent the area are familiar with the post-storm conditions.
7News cameras captured furniture in the standing water along Brickell Avenue and Southeast 13th Street.
Heavily flooded roads could also be seen in several cities across Broward County.
Cellphone video from earlier in the morning showed two women in scrubs getting out of a Mini Cooper that had stalled in the area.
One of the women told 7News she was shaken up and upset as this happened on her way to work.
When another car stalled in the area, a man got out of the vehicle, took off his shirt and started to push his vehicle out of the flooded street.
A good Samaritan nearby then got out of his own car to help the man push his car. The good Samaritan said he did not know the man but it’s just in his nature to want to help.
Tow trucks have been frequenting the area and even had to tow away a City of Miami Police cruiser.
It was a completely different scene in Brickell by noon, as the floodwater was pumped out and the roadways were dry once again.
Residents in the area could be seen walking their dogs, biking and going for an afternoon run.
Daniel Hernandez, a resident of the Hialeah/Hialeah Gardens area, said he has not seen this much water in the area.
“It was strange because it would come and go in waves,” Hernandez said. “Maybe once before but never, like, all of it. “I’ve driven down this place. It’s gotten flooded a couple of times, but I was driving down 28th, and the canals are overflowing into the street. It’s getting ridiculous.”
A Hialeah Police officer blocked off a road in the neighborhood to prevent motorists from traveling down the flooded street.
“No one deserves this, but usually, when the streets get flooded, it takes about two days,” Hernandez said.
In Miami Gardens, however, residents are still dealing with standing water.
Homeowners along Northwest 35th Court and 180th Street said the area simply cannot handle any more rain or else it will get into their homes.
When Ricardo Leyva was asked if he was worried if water could make its way inside of his home he said, “If it rains more, yes.”
A nearby canal’s banks have also burst, leading to the floodwater on the street becoming murky and residents having trouble differentiating between the canal and the street.
7News cameras captured the floodwater coming up to the front steps of homes.
“This is the result that we get from all this,” said resident Javier Vasquez. “I’ve been here 15 years, and this is the first time I see this like this.”
Cynthia Rowe, who has lived in Miami Gardens for 25 years, said she has never seen floodwater rise to her doorstep.
“I have never seen it like this. Never,” she said. “As I looked outside, I said, ‘Oh, my God, it’s coming up! It’s coming up!'”
Luckily, Rowe’s home stayed dry, but a few streets over, Roman Rodriguez had floodwater seep into one of his rooms, and his stepfather’s work truck is going nowhere.
In Miami Gardens on Northwest 170th Street and 22nd Avenue, the water level was even higher as the floodwater rose to the trunks of residents’ cars.
In Northwest Miami-Dade, a canal also overflowed into the street, and a swap shop flea market in Opa-Locka was underwater.
With ducks wading in the streets, many are playing it safe and staying at home.
“I’m stuck. I wouldn’t take my car out there,” Rowe said.
On Tuesday, flooding conditions remained.
7SkyForce HD hovered over Shula’s Golf Club in Miami Lakes that could be seen covered with standing water.
Drivers must exercise extra caution if they have to drive through any of the flooded neighborhoods where they do not know the lay of the land nor how deep the water is.
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