See what flooding does to South Florida: 100 places, 100 photos
By Alex Harris and
Susan Merriam
Mires Aguenar walks through flooded street at Holiday Acres Mobile Home Park in Hialeah, Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
Photograph by Al Diaz
adiaz@miamiherald.com
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Floods of Trouble
A series exploring how real estate and climate change collide in South Florida.
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In the Floods of Trouble series, the Miami Herald mapped flood complaints across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, explaining how nearly every corner of South Florida has experienced some kind of water troubles in the last decade. And not just in FEMA flood zones.
These 100 images from 100 places — taken in the last few years by Miami Herald photographers and residents alike — capture our all-too common problems.
If you haven’t waded knee-deep through a parking lot yet, you’re either new here or don’t get out much. The low-lying region is besieged by heavy rains, rising tides and groundwater floating just beneath our lawns, not to mention an aging and inadequate drainage system that can’t keep up with a booming population and more concrete poured by the day.
Combine that with climate change, which is making rains more intense and sending sea levels higher and higher, and it’s a recipe for soggy cities and sodden yards. Take a look.
Credits
Alex Harris | Environmental Reporter
Susan Merriam | Data Journalist
David Santiago | Photography
Matias J. Ocner | Photography
Ashley Miznazi | Photography
Al Diaz | Photography
Daniel A. Varela | Photography
Carl Juste | Photography
Pedro Portal | Photography
Alie Skowronski | Photography
Sam Navarro | Photography
Curtis Morgan | Editor
Carolina Zamora | Audience Engagement
Adrian Ruhi | Audience Engagement
Partners
This series is part of the Pulitzer Center's nationwide Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.
Alex Harris is the lead climate change reporter for the Miami Herald’s climate team, which covers how South Florida communities are adapting to the warming world. Her beat also includes environmental issues and hurricanes. She attended the University of Florida.
Susan Merriam is a data and visual journalist at McClatchy, where she has published work with the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee among others. She has been part of teams honored by the National Press Foundation, Investigative Reporters & Editors and the Society for News Design for their investigative and local accountability reporting.
