Jillian Lerner said floodwater reached every room of her home Saturday night, destroying belongings on the floors. Her family had also suffered flooding in October 2025 and spent four months away while repairs were made, returning in February.

“We just moved back into the house in February. All new furniture, so now it’s all gone again,” Lerner said. She told officials the repeated losses have taken an emotional toll on her children, who have experienced multiple floods.

City officials said some parts of Deerfield Beach received more than 8 inches of rain over the weekend. Deputy City Manager Eric Power said many homes in affected neighborhoods are below street level and sea level, leaving them especially vulnerable. He described heavier rainfall events as a growing challenge for South Florida.

Residents questioned whether enough has been done to prevent recurring damage. Power said the city approved a stormwater master plan in 2021 and took further steps in 2023 to increase underground stormwater capacity. Still, he cautioned that even a solution identified today could take several years to fully implement.

Mayor Todd Drosky raised possible measures including bringing in more mobile pumps, commissioning an outside study and installing deep-water injection wells. The city has also made reimbursements of up to $5,000 available to eligible homeowners installing flood barriers.

As officials consider longer-term work, local residents are offering immediate help. Sam Perks, a hotel general manager who lives in Deerfield Beach, said he would provide free rooms to displaced households, starting with seven to 10 rooms and potentially adding more in the following days. He said he would cover the cost personally.

The meeting left residents confronting two timelines: urgent repairs and housing needs after another flood, and infrastructure changes city officials say may take years.