Residents Trapped In Homes Due To Disastrous Flooding
Posted: 12:49 pm EDT May 21, 2009Updated: 6:39 pm EDT May 21, 2009
CENTRAL FLORIDA -- Entire neighborhoods were under water in Daytona Beach Thursday, trapping people in their homes. The flood water has caused at least $5 million in damage and that number is expected to increase.The flood caused people to travel through their neighborhood near Beville Road (see map) by boat. The old Daytona Beach police station was flooded and major roads were shut down.One of the world's most famous beach cities looked more like an. City officials say about 60 homes were damaged.
VIDEO REPORT: Neighborhoods Underwater
AERIAL VIDEO: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
AERIAL PICS: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
"It's flooded, flooded everywhere right now. It's ridiculous," said flood victim Tyrone Bentford.Residents who live along Nova Road (see map) resorted to using watercrafts to negotiate block after block of flooded street, many lined with flooded homes."Houses, apartments from Bellview all the way to International," said Bentford.Many residents took what they could and left on foot first and then by car, which was an option that did not work out for many."Caught a Nova a minute ago, a Mustang. Just trying to make the best of it you know," said business man Joel Murphy. "I don't know why the city hasn't shut this intersection down. I've got five cars in my parking lot that are flooded out."One driver learned the hard way that it's not necessarily the way you drive, often it's the way the other people drive that causes the problem."The trucks when they came by right beside me I was trying to go slow, smooth through the water and stay to the center and it just got up under," said one driver.The roads were so bad in parts of Daytona Beach that big trucks couldn't get through. A food services truck on Nova Road got stuck in a retention pond.Half of the vehicle was submerged under water and a tow truck had to come and pull it out.Many homes near Madeline Avenue (see map) in Port Orange were threatened by flood water that was running right up to houses.
ORMOND BEACH NEIGHBORHOODS FLOODEDResidents in Ormond Beach were canoeing through their neighborhoods. Greg and Gracie Marie Taft say they love to go on bicycle rides, but they could have picked a better day."What do you think about all this water?" asked WFTV reporter Berndt Petersen.
VIDEO REPORT: Residents Forced To Use Watercraft
"It's very high!" responded Gracie Marie Taft.Police sealed off the neighborhood and only homeowners were allowed in or out."They kind of left. The water it's not really safe to stay when it's in the house," said Melissa, resident.Mark Gailey has lived on the block for 15 years. Gailey says he bought insurance after the storms of 2004."We've got it now. Good thing now," he said.There's only one pump pulling the water out of the neighborhood. Residents say so far, it hasn't made much of a dent.A retention pond in the middle of the community wasn't large enough to handle the wash out, so it may be quite a while before Greg and Gracie Marie Taft take another bike ride."Are you going to walk in it?" asked Berndt. "No." replied Gracie Marie Taft."You're staying on the bike?" Berndt asked."Yeah," she said.
POWER OUTAGES DUE TO FLOODING The rain has slowed down, but there are still hundreds of people without power. Ormond Beach Florida Power and Light sub-station is underwater.FPL has 269 homes without power in Brevard County and in the Port Orange area; power is out to 80 homes.FPL says they hope to have everyone in Volusia County back on line by midnight, but have not said when the other counties may have their power turned back on.
HEALTH DEPT. URGES PEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF FLOOD WATERThe health department issued a warning Thursday to Volusia County residents who live in flooded areas especially in Daytona Beach where flooding appears to be the worst. The health department says the problem is what may be lurking in the dirty water and people should stay out of it. They don't want kids playing in it or curious residents walking through it."The sewage is starting to get backed up. Going to get nasty," said resident Jeff Linebarrier.Many people spent at least 30 minutes trying to navigate through the flood water. The water stains went beyond their knees, so they couldn't even see what they were walking through.
VIDEO REPORT: Dirty Flood Water | Images
SHARE: Submit Your Storm Photos & Videos
RAINFALL TOTALS: Local Rain Totals Since Sunday
SANDBAGS: County Emergency Services Info
"Use your wildest imagination probably. Just want to go home and take a shower," said resident Jose Nunez.All the water is causing sewers to backup. Septic systems and wells are malfunctioning. The health department says it's what causes snakes, alligators and fish to come out and some residents say they have seen that and more."Feces, I'm sure, snakes, a lot of frogs," said Linebarrier.Health officials said skin is a natural barrier to the bacteria and viruses that may be in the flood water, but it can't protect against the unknowns and what you can't see like chemicals and dangerous objects floating underneath."You could pick up hepatitis, there's MRSA potential," said Paul Minshew Volusia County Health Department.Residents were careful when trying to get back into their homes. The county says they will not be testing the water. Health officials say children and the elderly are at higher risk of getting sick and residents should boil water that comes from wells.
CLASSES CANCELED DUE TO FLOODINGClasses were canceled Thursday for students at three Volusia County schools because of the dangerous driving conditions caused by flooding.
VIDEO REPORT: Flood Causes School Closures
"Down Caroline Avenue, flooded out," said one resident."Worst you've seen then?" asked WFTV reporter Steve Barrett."Oh yeah," replied the resident.Campbell Middle School, Turie T. Small Elementary and the Chiles Academy were all closed and officials say the three school will be closed tomorrow as well.The schools are surrounded by water and there is no access. Police patrolled the streets leading to the schools to try to stop people from driving in the area.No other schools are affected. It is anticipated the three schools will reopen on Tuesday, May 26, after the Memorial Day holiday.All school activities, events and extended day programs are also cancelled on Friday at Turie T. Small Elementary and Campbell Middle.Additionally, the Early Head Start program, which is housed at Chiles Academy, will be closed.Daytona State College closed for classes due to the flooding on its campuses.On Mason Avenue in Daytona Beach, (see map) traffic was moving slowly and cars were getting swamped. Businesses were flooded and dozens of homes in residential areas were filled with water.Eyewitness News spoke with a police officer Thursday who said end to end, hundreds of homes are flooded and is damaged as a result.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM WORKING OVERTIME IN HOLLY HILLA drainage system was working overtime in Holly Hill Thursday afternoon. Many homes were flooded and the rain hasn't stopped.The city insisted it was ready for the water, but it all came just too quickly. The streets of Holly Hill are flooded and its storm drain system is over-worked.
VIDEO REPORT: Cleaner Drainers May Help Flood Issues
Rising flood waters forced Jennifer Pierce from her home near Calle Grande Street in Holly Hill (see map) Thursday morning.Since Monday, the area has seen close to two-feet of rain."If they cleaned out their drains like normal people would do, this wouldn't be like this," said Pierce.We wanted to find out if the city of holly hill and Volusia County prepared for the storm."A lot of people would say, 'Why aren't the drains working?' you say that they are," asked WFTV reporter Mark Boyle."Our drain system is working; unfortunately we've put too much rain down too quickly. It simply is inundated with water and there's no where for it to go," replied Chief Mark Barker, Holly Hill Police.County crews say they have been routinely checking storm drains and cleared them all out before this week's heavy rain."Before the storm, were they cleaned out at all?" asked Boyle."Yes, they were," responded Barker.Nearly three-dozen city public works employees are working to keep the roads as clear as possible, but some residents say it's just not enough."I'm very frustrated. The city could have prevented this," Pierce said.
FLOODING DAMAGES CROPS IN FLAGLER COUNTYMore than two-feet of rain have fallen in some parts of Flagler County since Sunday.The massive amount of rain has left streets, homes and crops flooded. The estimated damage to potato farmers in Flagler and neighboring communities is $45 million.
VIDEO REPORT: Crops Damaged
Governor Charlie Crist was in Ocala Thursday touring the area."The irony of the weather we're receiving is that last week I signed an executive order to get us prepared for wildfires because it was so dry and prayed for rain and prayer is powerful," said Crist.Flagler County's first shelter opened late Thursday afternoon. It's at the United Methodist Church on South Daytona Avenue in Flagler Beach.The storms have hit Flagler County hard and officials are asking residents to cut down on water us, because they don't want to overwork the waste-water systems.More than 25-inches of rain has already fallen on the county and up to three more inches could fall Thursday.There's beach erosion and flooding on streets and in homes. Sandbags are available at fire stations throughout Flagler County, but officials say bring your own shovel to fill them up.
BREVARD COUNTY ON ALERT AFTER TORNADO WARNINGParts of Brevard County were on alert early Thursday morning after a tornado warning was issued.Eyewitness News' tower camera in Cocoa Beach captured several lightning strikes. Fortunately, a tornado didn't develop and there were no reports of damage.
VIDEO REPORT: Neighborhoods Underwater
AERIAL VIDEO: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
AERIAL PICS: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
"It's flooded, flooded everywhere right now. It's ridiculous," said flood victim Tyrone Bentford.Residents who live along Nova Road (see map) resorted to using watercrafts to negotiate block after block of flooded street, many lined with flooded homes."Houses, apartments from Bellview all the way to International," said Bentford.Many residents took what they could and left on foot first and then by car, which was an option that did not work out for many."Caught a Nova a minute ago, a Mustang. Just trying to make the best of it you know," said business man Joel Murphy. "I don't know why the city hasn't shut this intersection down. I've got five cars in my parking lot that are flooded out."One driver learned the hard way that it's not necessarily the way you drive, often it's the way the other people drive that causes the problem."The trucks when they came by right beside me I was trying to go slow, smooth through the water and stay to the center and it just got up under," said one driver.The roads were so bad in parts of Daytona Beach that big trucks couldn't get through. A food services truck on Nova Road got stuck in a retention pond.Half of the vehicle was submerged under water and a tow truck had to come and pull it out.Many homes near Madeline Avenue (see map) in Port Orange were threatened by flood water that was running right up to houses.
ORMOND BEACH NEIGHBORHOODS FLOODEDResidents in Ormond Beach were canoeing through their neighborhoods. Greg and Gracie Marie Taft say they love to go on bicycle rides, but they could have picked a better day."What do you think about all this water?" asked WFTV reporter Berndt Petersen.
VIDEO REPORT: Residents Forced To Use Watercraft
"It's very high!" responded Gracie Marie Taft.Police sealed off the neighborhood and only homeowners were allowed in or out."They kind of left. The water it's not really safe to stay when it's in the house," said Melissa, resident.Mark Gailey has lived on the block for 15 years. Gailey says he bought insurance after the storms of 2004."We've got it now. Good thing now," he said.There's only one pump pulling the water out of the neighborhood. Residents say so far, it hasn't made much of a dent.A retention pond in the middle of the community wasn't large enough to handle the wash out, so it may be quite a while before Greg and Gracie Marie Taft take another bike ride."Are you going to walk in it?" asked Berndt. "No." replied Gracie Marie Taft."You're staying on the bike?" Berndt asked."Yeah," she said.
POWER OUTAGES DUE TO FLOODING The rain has slowed down, but there are still hundreds of people without power. Ormond Beach Florida Power and Light sub-station is underwater.FPL has 269 homes without power in Brevard County and in the Port Orange area; power is out to 80 homes.FPL says they hope to have everyone in Volusia County back on line by midnight, but have not said when the other counties may have their power turned back on.
HEALTH DEPT. URGES PEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF FLOOD WATERThe health department issued a warning Thursday to Volusia County residents who live in flooded areas especially in Daytona Beach where flooding appears to be the worst. The health department says the problem is what may be lurking in the dirty water and people should stay out of it. They don't want kids playing in it or curious residents walking through it."The sewage is starting to get backed up. Going to get nasty," said resident Jeff Linebarrier.Many people spent at least 30 minutes trying to navigate through the flood water. The water stains went beyond their knees, so they couldn't even see what they were walking through.
VIDEO REPORT: Dirty Flood Water | Images
SHARE: Submit Your Storm Photos & Videos
RAINFALL TOTALS: Local Rain Totals Since Sunday
SANDBAGS: County Emergency Services Info
"Use your wildest imagination probably. Just want to go home and take a shower," said resident Jose Nunez.All the water is causing sewers to backup. Septic systems and wells are malfunctioning. The health department says it's what causes snakes, alligators and fish to come out and some residents say they have seen that and more."Feces, I'm sure, snakes, a lot of frogs," said Linebarrier.Health officials said skin is a natural barrier to the bacteria and viruses that may be in the flood water, but it can't protect against the unknowns and what you can't see like chemicals and dangerous objects floating underneath."You could pick up hepatitis, there's MRSA potential," said Paul Minshew Volusia County Health Department.Residents were careful when trying to get back into their homes. The county says they will not be testing the water. Health officials say children and the elderly are at higher risk of getting sick and residents should boil water that comes from wells.
CLASSES CANCELED DUE TO FLOODINGClasses were canceled Thursday for students at three Volusia County schools because of the dangerous driving conditions caused by flooding.
VIDEO REPORT: Flood Causes School Closures
"Down Caroline Avenue, flooded out," said one resident."Worst you've seen then?" asked WFTV reporter Steve Barrett."Oh yeah," replied the resident.Campbell Middle School, Turie T. Small Elementary and the Chiles Academy were all closed and officials say the three school will be closed tomorrow as well.The schools are surrounded by water and there is no access. Police patrolled the streets leading to the schools to try to stop people from driving in the area.No other schools are affected. It is anticipated the three schools will reopen on Tuesday, May 26, after the Memorial Day holiday.All school activities, events and extended day programs are also cancelled on Friday at Turie T. Small Elementary and Campbell Middle.Additionally, the Early Head Start program, which is housed at Chiles Academy, will be closed.Daytona State College closed for classes due to the flooding on its campuses.On Mason Avenue in Daytona Beach, (see map) traffic was moving slowly and cars were getting swamped. Businesses were flooded and dozens of homes in residential areas were filled with water.Eyewitness News spoke with a police officer Thursday who said end to end, hundreds of homes are flooded and is damaged as a result.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM WORKING OVERTIME IN HOLLY HILLA drainage system was working overtime in Holly Hill Thursday afternoon. Many homes were flooded and the rain hasn't stopped.The city insisted it was ready for the water, but it all came just too quickly. The streets of Holly Hill are flooded and its storm drain system is over-worked.
VIDEO REPORT: Cleaner Drainers May Help Flood Issues
Rising flood waters forced Jennifer Pierce from her home near Calle Grande Street in Holly Hill (see map) Thursday morning.Since Monday, the area has seen close to two-feet of rain."If they cleaned out their drains like normal people would do, this wouldn't be like this," said Pierce.We wanted to find out if the city of holly hill and Volusia County prepared for the storm."A lot of people would say, 'Why aren't the drains working?' you say that they are," asked WFTV reporter Mark Boyle."Our drain system is working; unfortunately we've put too much rain down too quickly. It simply is inundated with water and there's no where for it to go," replied Chief Mark Barker, Holly Hill Police.County crews say they have been routinely checking storm drains and cleared them all out before this week's heavy rain."Before the storm, were they cleaned out at all?" asked Boyle."Yes, they were," responded Barker.Nearly three-dozen city public works employees are working to keep the roads as clear as possible, but some residents say it's just not enough."I'm very frustrated. The city could have prevented this," Pierce said.
FLOODING DAMAGES CROPS IN FLAGLER COUNTYMore than two-feet of rain have fallen in some parts of Flagler County since Sunday.The massive amount of rain has left streets, homes and crops flooded. The estimated damage to potato farmers in Flagler and neighboring communities is $45 million.
VIDEO REPORT: Crops Damaged
Governor Charlie Crist was in Ocala Thursday touring the area."The irony of the weather we're receiving is that last week I signed an executive order to get us prepared for wildfires because it was so dry and prayed for rain and prayer is powerful," said Crist.Flagler County's first shelter opened late Thursday afternoon. It's at the United Methodist Church on South Daytona Avenue in Flagler Beach.The storms have hit Flagler County hard and officials are asking residents to cut down on water us, because they don't want to overwork the waste-water systems.More than 25-inches of rain has already fallen on the county and up to three more inches could fall Thursday.There's beach erosion and flooding on streets and in homes. Sandbags are available at fire stations throughout Flagler County, but officials say bring your own shovel to fill them up.
BREVARD COUNTY ON ALERT AFTER TORNADO WARNINGParts of Brevard County were on alert early Thursday morning after a tornado warning was issued.Eyewitness News' tower camera in Cocoa Beach captured several lightning strikes. Fortunately, a tornado didn't develop and there were no reports of damage.
Previous Stories:
- May 20, 2009: Heavy Rain Causing Flooding In Holly Hill
- May 19, 2009: Residents Fear Flooding Amid Drainage Issues
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