TALLAHASSEE, FL, Nov. 3, 2026 — State agencies spent Election Day pulling people out of flooded areas in Central and South Florida, and the rain isn't done yet.
Rescues: The Florida Highway Patrol said on X that troopers, "including members of the Quick Response Force (QRF), are actively responding in Central and South Florida, supporting flood response efforts through road closures, high-water rescues, and aerial overflights of impacted areas." The state's emergency management agency said its Emergency Services Branch has run search-and-rescue operations "throughout the night & into today," helping residents "safely evacuate from dangerous conditions." Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers are "using airboats, swamp buggies & shallow-water vessels to reach isolated communities in need of assistance," the agency said.
Hospitals: Emergency drinking water was delivered Monday night "to three flood-impacted hospitals to help keep these facilities operational & ensure patients continue receiving care," the agency said. It didn't name the hospitals.
Tonight: The National Weather Service in Miami forecast "scattered to numerous showers and storms" across South Florida this evening and said "localized flooding is likely, especially with slow moving storms with repeated rounds of rainfall." It added that saturated soils "will make drainage difficult, particularly for low-lying areas!"
Rivers: The Weather Service in Tampa Bay says major flooding is forecast on the Peace River at Arcadia, and flood warnings continue for the Alafia River at Lithia, Horse Creek near Arcadia, the Manatee River near Myakka Head and the Peace River at Zolfo Springs. Heavy rain of "5 to 10 inches" in west central Florida will keep several rivers in flood stage "over the next few days," it said. On the St. Johns, the Weather Service in Melbourne has flood warnings out near Cocoa, above Lake Harney, Sanford, DeLand and Astor.
On the road: The Highway Patrol's advice for flooded roads is to "TURN AROUND and seek an ALTERNATE route. Your life and your vehicle are not worth the risk." Help and resources are on the state's Fall Flooding page, and our after-the-flood cleanup guide covers the first steps once the water goes down.
If you're heading home from the polls tonight, give flooded roads a wide berth.
Sources: Florida Highway Patrol post on X; Florida Division of Emergency Management posts on X (search and rescue, FWC, hospitals) and its Fall Flooding page; National Weather Service Miami post; NWS Tampa Bay and Melbourne river flood warnings linked above.
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