On November 8, 2020, as Tropical Storm Eta passed, rain totals of 12 to 18 inches spread across southwest Broward. Streets in Davie flooded badly, and many buildings sitting near or at ground level took on water. The Town Council declared a local state of emergency, 12 town parks stayed closed afterward, and the town opened Bergeron Rodeo Grounds to residents whose horse stalls had been badly hit. It showed how much damage a long, heavy rain event can do here.
Canals, pumps and the C-11 West basin
Davie sits in central Broward where I-595 meets I-75, on land that was once part of the Everglades. Drainage runs through a network of canals managed by several agencies, with most town projects falling inside the Central Broward Water Control District. The South Broward Drainage District and the South Florida Water Management District also have a role.
West of Nob Hill Road, stormwater drains to the C-11 canal and is pumped by the S-9 station into Water Conservation Area 3A. The town describes this C-11 West basin as environmentally sensitive, and it contains most of Davie’s high-risk flood zone. After Hurricane Irene caused widespread flooding in 1999, Davie identified 13 drainage problem areas for capital improvements.
Water that rises from yards and canals is contaminated, so the work follows flood cleanup steps: remove soaked porous materials, clean, then dry.
Mobile homes, 1980s houses and septic tanks
Davie’s housing covers a wide range. About 40 percent of units are detached single-family homes, and another roughly 18 percent are in buildings with 20 or more units. Mobile homes make up nearly 14 percent, over five times the county share. The median home was built in 1989, and the 1980s were the busiest decade for construction.
Each type takes on water differently:
- Mobile and manufactured homes sit above the ground, so flood water often reaches the insulation, ducts and floor framing underneath before anything shows inside.
- Houses from the 1970s and 1980s are old enough that original water heaters, supply lines and valves may still be in place.
- Homes on septic can see wastewater back up through tubs, showers and floor drains when a storm saturates the drain field.
A backup from a septic tank or sewer line is a different job from a clean-water leak. The sewage cleanup page explains why.
ZIP codes shared with Plantation, Cooper City and Southwest Ranches
By land area, three of the five ZIP codes on this page are mostly Davie: 33314 (about 84 percent), 33328 (about 71 percent, with the rest in Cooper City) and 33325 (about two thirds, with the rest in Plantation and Sunrise). ZIP code 33324 is mainly Plantation, and 33330 is split between Davie, Southwest Ranches and Cooper City. A slice of western Davie also uses 33331. The same 24/7 line serves every address in them.