David Hogg, a gun control activist and survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, recently tweeted about the ongoing flooding in Broward County. His tweet read “Broward is underwater. #WhereIsDeSantis,” calling attention to Governor Ron DeSantis’ alleged lack of action on climate change.
According to local news reports, Broward County has been experiencing severe flooding due to heavy rainfall and high tides. The flooding has caused road closures, power outages, and damage to homes and businesses. In some areas, water levels have risen above cars parked on the street.
This is not the first time that Broward County has experienced such severe flooding. In 2019, Hurricane Dorian caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in the area. And in 2017, Hurricane Irma flooded parts of Broward County as well.
The issue of climate change has been a contentious one in Florida politics for years now. While some politicians have taken steps to address rising sea levels and extreme weather events, others have denied the existence or severity of climate change altogether.
Governor DeSantis has faced criticism from environmental activists for his handling of these issues during his time in office so far. Some have accused him of rolling back environmental protections put in place by previous administrations.
In response to Hogg’s tweet about Broward County’s flooding, Governor DeSantis visited the affected areas on August 25th with emergency management officials. He declared a state of emergency for several counties impacted by Tropical Storm Fred just days prior.
During his visit, Governor DeSantis praised local officials for their response efforts but did not directly address Hogg’s criticism about his stance on climate change or any specific actions he plans to take moving forward regarding this issue.
It remains unclear what specific measures will be taken by government officials at various levels to address the underlying causes behind these floods beyond immediate relief efforts like pumping out flooded areas and repairing damaged infrastructure.
The flooding in Broward County serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address climate change, which is expected to lead to more frequent and severe weather events in the coming years. While politicians continue to debate the issue, it is clear that communities like those in Broward County will continue to be on the front lines of these environmental challenges.