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Heavy Rains Leave Opa-Locka Warehouse District Flooded

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OPA-LOCKA (CBSMiami) – The rains that fell across South Florida on Wednesday left a mess in a warehouse district in Opa-locka.

Two business owners told CBS4 News that this is a persistent problem in the area of NW 151st Street and NW 22nd Avenue.

The city's assistant city manager says city leaders are well aware of the issues and have millions of dollars in grants and loans to help fix the problem.

Drivers navigated the flooding, but William Discipio, who owns Winston Manufacturing, says his customers and employees put up with these conditions several times each month especially during the rainy season.

"It's crazy that the city can't deal with the drainage over here," he said.

And Discipio said another problem is the potholes.

"The water digs up the road so there are potholes that are so deep over there that are hidden," he said.

Discipio said sometimes the heavy machinery in the area also create potholes.

But whether it's water or machine, he says it's bad for business.

"I've had customers come in with broken axles and wheels and stuff because they don't know the potholes are hidden," Discipio said.

Howard Levine owns Luraline Lighting. He said Wednesday's lightning and thunder storm was different than most.

"Tremendously loud thunder strike," Levine said. "It literally shook the building. I had one girl almost jump out of her chair."

Levine says he's been in business here for 40 years and he's simply put up with the flooding.

"It's a weather event," Levine said. "It happens and you deal with it."

But city leaders don't want these business owners to have to deal with it any longer.

"We realize the critical nature of it," said David Chiverton, Assistant City Manager and Public Information Officer.

Chiverton said the city has millions of dollars in state grants and loans set aside to fix the drainage and other problems in the area. He said the city is working on the bidding process now and hopes to begin work within two months. He also said the city recently bought big pumps to help drain the water and they expect to be out here first thing in the morning cleaning up.

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