Arch Creek, Little Arch Creek, Biscayne Canal, and Oleta River are the four major waterways that traverse the
city of North Miami. The majority of our storm sewer system empties and discharges toward one of these four waterways or the Biscayne Bay, which connects directly with the Atlantic Ocean. The waterways are influenced by tides that contribute to drainage and flood problems in the City. When there is a high tide or heavy rainfall, the storm sewer system will rapidly fill-up from surface run-off and tidal waters. This could cause flood conditions in our streets, swale areas, and lawns.
Major Drainage Areas
The city of North Miami is divided into two major drainage areas: (1) the area west of the Biscayne Canal, and (2) the area east of the Biscayne Canal. The area west of the Biscayne Canal has primarily sandy soil and a very low water table elevation. The remainder of the City, east of the Biscayne Canal, consists of muck, marl, and sand which primarily has high water table levels.
Flooding from Storms
Your property may be elevated high enough which explains
why you may not have experienced flooding. However, this may
change in the future. Hurricane Andrew (1992), was not a wet
hurricane compared to Hurricane Irene (1999), which
registered 13 inches of rain in 24 hours. In 2000, continuous
rainfall from the October 3rd “No Name” storm deposited more
than 19 inches of rain in 24 hours. This storm inundated local
canals and waterways, and caused unprecedented residential
property damage and destruction for what was originally
forecast as a severe area thunderstorm. And more recently, in
2017, Hurricane Irma produced up to 27 inches of floodwater in
flood-prone areas in the City.