Two Deaths Blamed on Miami Rainstorms

M I A M I, Oct. 4 -- Torrential downpours flooded southeastern Floridawith up to 18 inches of rain today, closing schools and businesses, stranding thousands of motorists in waist-high water andleaving catfish swimming in first-floor apartments.

A man fell to his death today while trying to patch aleaking roof in Miami Beach.

Most of the rain had stopped by midday, but three countiesremained under a flood watch and Miami residents were urged to stayhome until things dried out. Near Fort Myers, new flood warningswere issued for parts of Lee County, where 6 to 7 inches of rainfell in three hours today and 3 to 5 inches more were expected.

“All we need is a canoe and some fishing rods,” said RoyD’Erminio. He said his overflowing swimming pool “looks likeWalden Pond.”

Thousands Lose PowerLast year, Hurricane Irene caused millions of dollars in flooddamage when it dumped 18 inches of rain on the area. This time,there was no hurricane—just a moisture-packed storm that arrivedfrom offshore Monday with 3 inches of rain per hour.

“This was a total surprise,” said Magdalena Martinez of Miami.“It just wasn’t normal.”

The storm flooded homes and turned streets into rivers. Catfishwere reported swimming in some apartments in Opa-locka.

Water rushed inside the Miami-area home of Virginia Pacheco whenshe opened her door. “There are probably fish, snakes out there,”she said.

A tornado tore the roof off a Hialeah fire station, but no onewas injured.

Tens of thousands of people lost power.

“Our crews can’t move in until the waters recede and until theycan safely use their equipment,” said Bill Swank, a spokesman forFlorida Power and Light who estimated that about 27,000 homes andbusinesses were without power. He said it could take two to threedays to restore.

Cancelled Classes, Health WarningsClasses for the 360,000 students in Miami-Dade County publicschools were canceled today, and 15 water-damaged schools willbe unable to open Thursday when classes resume.