Statement from Mayor Keith A. James Regarding Continued Flooding
Published on November 09, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kathleen Joy, Director of Communications
City of West Palm Beach – Mayor’s Office
Phone: (561) 822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)
Email: kjoy@wpb.org
Statement from West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James Regarding Continued Flooding in Briar Bay, The Cove at Briar Bay, and Hamilton Bay
WEST PALM BEACH, FL (November 9, 2026) – “I understand the frustration and hardship that residents of Briar Bay, The Cove at Briar Bay, and Hamilton Bay continue to experience following last week's historic rainfall. With significant standing water remaining in these communities, the City is focused on residents’ safety and is continuing to coordinate with the agencies responsible for drainage while providing direct assistance where possible.
The Hamal Community Development District (CDD) is responsible for maintaining the community’s surface water management system. Its existing system has two pumps that currently cannot operate simultaneously. The Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District (NPBCID) has provided two additional pumps, and Hamal CDD informed the City this morning that an electrician is being brought in to enable its two pumps to operate concurrently.
Since the beginning of this event, the City has maintained ongoing communication with the NPBCID and has also made direct outreach to Hamal CDD, offering personnel, equipment, and technical assistance. Both districts have informed us that there is nothing further the City can do at this time to assist with drainage operations. The City is not withholding permits, delaying improvements on the current pumping and drainage efforts. We will continue monitoring conditions, coordinating with the responsible agencies and offering assistance as needs change.
While the drainage system is outside our jurisdiction, our commitment to these residents is not. The City partially activated its Emergency Operations Center on November 2. Since then, City crews have been working around the clock to respond to flooding throughout West Palm Beach, while continuing to provide direct assistance to residents in these communities. This includes offering transportation to shelters for residents unable to leave their neighborhoods and helping hospice nurses reach patients when they were flooded in. Our Police and Fire Rescue personnel remain available to assist residents with medical emergencies or other urgent needs, including assistance leaving their communities. Residents facing an immediate emergency should call 911.
Our sanitation crews have continued assessing conditions in these neighborhoods twice daily. Due to significant standing water, garbage trucks cannot safely access certain areas without creating wakes that could push water into homes and garages. To provide residents with an alternative, the City is placing two temporary six-cubic-yard dumpsters in the community clubhouse parking lot for excess bagged household garbage. The City will continue monitoring conditions and resume regular collection as soon as it is safe to do so.
I recognize the significant impact this prolonged flooding has had on residents. The City will continue coordinating with the responsible agencies, monitoring conditions, and providing assistance wherever possible. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of every resident.” — Mayor Keith A. James
For questions regarding drainage operations and floodwater removal, residents should contact the Hamal Community Development District:
Residents experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. City emergency services remain available to assist residents in the impacted communities.
###
About the City of West Palm Beach
The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic city on Florida's Atlantic coast. With a rich history, thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region and the central city of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing waterfront city that seamlessly blends the business advantages available in the area with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working, making it an exceptional destination for both residents and professionals alike. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit our official website or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn. To contact the City of West Palm Beach, please dial (561) 822-1200 (TTY 800 955-8771).