MARATHON, Fla. (NewsNation Now) — Thousands were without power Sunday night as Tropical Storm Eta moved over South Florida.
Heavy rain and wind was felt through Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties. With much of the area saturated with water, streets began to flood in neighborhoods.
Drainage canals in some areas were flooded.
In Lauderhill, a city in Broward County, a car drove into a canal that was overflowing. Firefighters rescued a person from the water and took the person to the hospital in critical condition.
The City of Miami opened sandbagging locations so residents could get free sandbags to protect their homes.
“I’m not really scared about it, but my mom is because she passed through Hurricane Katrina, so she is scared but not me,” said Angel Cardona of Miami.
Cardona was one of the people lined up to get sandbags.
Up to ten inches of rain was expected in some parts of South Florida.
Public school classes in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties were canceled for Monday. Miami-Dade also opened two evacuation shelters.
“Gusts could bring wind speeds to the lower range of a category one hurricane and there is also the possibility of tornados. Storm surge and rising waters are a concern,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
Florida Power and Light has 10,000 restoration crews on standby — with backup crews coming to the region from Texas to help get power back on.