Two Deaths From Heavy Rain, Flooding That Closed Schools, Roads in Palm Beach County

Heavy rain causes severe flooding in Palm Beach, St. Lucie counties.

Two people were killed in flooding from heavy rains, which forced road and school closures and also destroyed several cars and homes in Palm Beach County Friday.

A woman died after she drove her car into a canal in an area where the road's edge was concealed by heavy flooding, authorities said. Get updates on the incident here.

The sheriff's office said another body was also found, The Palm Beach Post reported.

Palm Beach County Emergency Management said a flood warning was extended to 4:15 p.m. Friday after heavy rain fell on the area late Thursday.


Certain areas received double digits amounts of rain, according to the National Weather Service. in Boynton Beach, 17.72 inches were recorded. In some areas of the county it rained up to 22 inches.

"I couldn't believe it when I woke up," Boynton Beach resident Mary Weatherford said. "I tried to get to work, everyone around here's got a day off I guess."

Weatherford said she was using a kayak to go to the store and get milk.

Parts of Palm Beach County were still under water Friday night, long after the rain stopped falling.

Drivers challenged floodwaters all through Friday evening, with many losing. NBC 6 saw one truck driver try his luck – and get stuck in the water.

Others opted for safer passage.

“I’m looking, there’s a car further down, it looks like the water’s almost up to his headlight, so I’m not going to go there," one driver said.


The flooding had I-95 southbound lanes closed early Friday in Boynton Beach.

Officials were assisting residents who were flooded out of their homes in finding temporary shelter. Crews were also out late Thursday and early Friday helping motorists who became stranded in the flooding.

Footage showed several residents navigating the flood waters in kayaks and canoes.

Schools in St. Lucie County were also closed as a result of the flooding.

Martin County Fire Rescue officials said a possible tornado in Hobe Sound damaged 30 homes. No injuries were reported, but officials said there were multiple downed power lines.

The South Florida Water Management District said it was coordinating with local drainage districts and local governments to move water out of low-lying areas.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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