Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine highlighted the city’s success against the King Tides of 2016 in a mass email today, stating “thus far the city of Miami Beach has not closed a single road because of high tides” and how “the news this year has been, there is no news, the streets are dry, and it is business as usual for Miami Beach.”
While it does appear streets have been way less flooded this year compared to years past, there is some concern over what the city’s system of raised roads and pumps are doing to Biscayne Bay. There also is no defense against water rising up through the ground in the likes of low-lying parking garages, which somehow led to a live octopus in a garage along West Avenue this week.
The mayor’s email in full:
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The King Tides of 2016 were predicted to be the highest on November 14th, 15th, and 16th. The tides were predicted to be a greater concern this year because of the supermoon, known as November's Beaver Moon, where the moon came at its closest point of approach in its orbit around Earth. On Monday, Nov. 14 the moon was the closest and brightest since 1948, and will not come as close again until Nov. 25, 2034. The moon's gravity is a big contributor to the gravitational pull that causes tidal fluctuations.
The City of Miami Beach prepared for the King Tides this year more than ever before, and have great successes to report. In the areas where projects have been completed with permanently installed storm water pumping stations, and raised roadways there was no roadway flooding. Additionally, there were temporary water dams, and temporary water pumps installed in areas where improvement projects have not been completed, and prevented expected flooding. Last year during the month of September, the City experienced multiple road closures due to the high tides. This year, thus far the city of Miami Beach has not closed a single road because of high tides. The news this year has been, there is no news, the streets are dry, and it is business as usual for Miami Beach.
We shall never declare victory as we have many battles ahead and numerous unanswered questions. But I can assure you that we will continue our progress forward. We will seek to find new and better solutions and we will push to make our city a model of resiliency.
Thank you for your patience as we continue together on this journey.
Sincerely,
Philip Levine
Mayor of Miami Beach