A Florida chimpanzee sanctuary had to deliver food to one of its 200 apes by drone this week because the property was swamped by heavy rain. But the animals stayed safe, and the water finally was receding significantly on Saturday, the organization said.

As rainstorms soaked southeast and central Florida from Sunday through Tuesday, Save the Chimps’ care houses were secure on high ground, CEO Ana Paula Tavares said in a statement. Some veterinarians and other employees stayed overnight on the 150-acre (61-hectare) property near Fort Pierce to ensure the animals’ care.

Canals overflowed and submerged the internal roads that normally are used to deliver 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of chimp food per day via golf carts, facilities director Mark Yohannan said by phone. A high-clearance swamp buggy helped but soon broke down.…