Two Years Later: Remembering the Great Fort Lauderdale Flood

I think my family would like to forget April 12th.  

April 12, 2023.

It started like any other rainy day in South Florida. You know the drill—storm clouds roll in, the humidity gets moody, and somewhere a frog sounds off like it knows what’s coming. School let out early which was good because by 12:00 p.m. there was already 3 inches of water in the parking lot.  Driving home was interesting because every route I would take was flooded or blocked.  Hubby got home around 6:00 p.m. But by 7:58 p.m., my phone screamed a Flash Flood Emergency Alert that basically said, “Stay where you are, or else.” And honestly? It meant it.


Because irony never takes a rain check, Amazon helpfully suggested a flamingo-shaped pool float "tea infuser" while we were watching the water climb our stairs. Because sure, nothing says “disaster recovery” like floating your tea in style.


By 9:30 p.m., Fort Lauderdale had taken in over 24 inches of rain (yes, in a single day), the airport was underwater and shut down, and both of our cars were officially declared drowned. The water rose over 2 feet inside them. We stood at the window, watching helplessly as our driveway turned into a lagoon and our vehicles slowly turned into submarines.


But the flood wasn’t the only heavy memory tied to April 12. One year later, in 2024, we lost Kevin’s mom, Eudora. It was already a day we couldn’t forget—and now it holds even more weight. Her loss still feels fresh, and the timing only deepened the ache.

Tonight in memory of her we had tenderloins and (fried) potatoes. Comfort food.  They were good but not like Momma made them. ❤️

What we learned from the Great Flood of 2023:

  • Always know your flood zone. (Spoiler: ours was a giant purple blob of doom.)

  • High ground is gold. Park there. No matter how far you have to walk.

  • If it makes you laugh, buy the flamingo. Humor is a survival skill.

  • Hold your people close. Time doesn't warn you when it's running out.

Photo dump:
Yes, that’s our front yard. That is lake that used to be our parking lot. And that Malibu? Still bears the mudline to prove what it went through. There are some awesome videos online that show downtown and our neighborhood...underwater.



April 12 is no longer just a date on the calendar for us. It’s a marker in our story—a day of loss, survival, and strange floating tea accessories.

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