  |
Crews Rescue Residents From Flooded Homes
Posted: 6:33 am EDT May 22, 2009Updated: 11:49 am EDT May 22, 2009
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The scope of the devastation caused by a week of heavy rainfall and massive flooding becomes clearer with each passing day. In Daytona Beach alone, nearly 500 homes have been damaged and that number is expected to rise.Firefighters have already rescued hundreds of people trapped by flooding. Eyewitness News has been in touch with rescue crews Friday morning and they plan on resuming the task of pulling people from their homes as soon as daylight breaks.
SPEEDWAY FLOODED: Images Show Massive Floods
RAW VIDEO: Truck Drives Into Ditch
SHARE: Submit Your Storm Photos & Videos
One of the areas hit hardest by the Daytona Beach flooding is just off Nova Road. Dozens of streets are still flooded throughout Daytona Beach and many home owners are stuck inside with no where to go. Daytona Beach firefighters have already rescued nearly 300 people and that number will continue to climb throughout Friday morning.The neighborhood near Nova Road and International Speedway Boulevard is underwater and the flood waters stretch as far as the eye can see. Some folks who tried to escape the rising flood waters stalled out in their vehicles. The water is more than three-feet deep in some areas.At the Daytona International Speedway, officials said flooding there is like nothing they've seen in the 50-year history of the raceway. The newly constructed tunnel at the first turn, where RVs can go underneath the track, and the inside of the track along the super stretch are where the worst flooding is. The water rose overnight from adjacent Lake Lloyd, but the Speedway said the track is not under water.Officials said Daytona International Airport's main runways are open, but some smaller runways and taxiways were closed due to standing water. Commercial traffic was reported on schedule and there were no delays as of Friday morning. The south runways, a training runway, was closed, but there were no students scheduled to fly Friday.Since Monday, Daytona Beach has seen 17 inches of rain fall and more could still be on the way.Many residents and crews would like to get cleanup efforts underway, but it is hard to begin that process when there is still water inside homes.Once the water does recede, residents and cleanup crews are going to have to sift through all of the trash, sewage and other debris that is flowing beneath the water's surface.
FLORIDA POLITICIANS TO TOUR AREAS DAMAGED BY FLOODSFlorida politicians will tour areas damaged by the storm Friday in an effort to get emergency funding.
AERIAL VIDEO: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
AERIAL PICS: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
Congressman John Mica will inspect the damage in Volusia County Friday morning. Despite the flooding, Governor Crist still has not yet declared a state of emergency.Also Friday morning, Daytona Beach will have an emergency City Commission meeting to declare a state of emergency in the city.
NEARLY 80 HOMES DAMAGED IN ORMOND BEACHMany Ormond Beach residents are frustrated as they try to clean up after nearly two feet of rain fell. As of Friday morning, nearly 80 homes have been damaged.Residents tell Eyewitness News that in addition to the flooding and continuing rainfall, they are dealing with sightseers creating more problems."I don't really think we expected it to be this bad," said Chris Hoch, resident.While the flood waters slowly recede, residents on Hand Avenue are doing what they can to clean up, but it is not always working."Getting the water out [is the problem]. As the water recedes I'm fighting what's already in the house," said Hoch.In the last thirty years, the people here say no hurricane or tropical storm has flooded the street like this recent storm."I've been doing it for an hour or so. It's gone down. I have about two inches left," said another longtime local resident.All residents can do now is exercise patience and wait for the flood waters to drain away.Officials and residents in this Ormond Beach neighborhood are asking sightseers and curious onlookers to stay away from the flooded areas to avoid causing even more damage to the homes.
DELTONA POWER OUTAGESUtilities crews are hard at work trying to restore power to several hundred homes in Deltona.Deltona police told Eyewitness News that approximately 200 homes were without power and in the dark Friday morning.The outage is on the southeast side of town, near Doyle Road and Fort Smith Boulevard.Florida Power and Light workers are trying to determine what caused the outage.
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.
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."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.
SPEEDWAY FLOODED: Images Show Massive Floods
RAW VIDEO: Truck Drives Into Ditch
SHARE: Submit Your Storm Photos & Videos
One of the areas hit hardest by the Daytona Beach flooding is just off Nova Road. Dozens of streets are still flooded throughout Daytona Beach and many home owners are stuck inside with no where to go. Daytona Beach firefighters have already rescued nearly 300 people and that number will continue to climb throughout Friday morning.The neighborhood near Nova Road and International Speedway Boulevard is underwater and the flood waters stretch as far as the eye can see. Some folks who tried to escape the rising flood waters stalled out in their vehicles. The water is more than three-feet deep in some areas.At the Daytona International Speedway, officials said flooding there is like nothing they've seen in the 50-year history of the raceway. The newly constructed tunnel at the first turn, where RVs can go underneath the track, and the inside of the track along the super stretch are where the worst flooding is. The water rose overnight from adjacent Lake Lloyd, but the Speedway said the track is not under water.Officials said Daytona International Airport's main runways are open, but some smaller runways and taxiways were closed due to standing water. Commercial traffic was reported on schedule and there were no delays as of Friday morning. The south runways, a training runway, was closed, but there were no students scheduled to fly Friday.Since Monday, Daytona Beach has seen 17 inches of rain fall and more could still be on the way.Many residents and crews would like to get cleanup efforts underway, but it is hard to begin that process when there is still water inside homes.Once the water does recede, residents and cleanup crews are going to have to sift through all of the trash, sewage and other debris that is flowing beneath the water's surface.
FLORIDA POLITICIANS TO TOUR AREAS DAMAGED BY FLOODSFlorida politicians will tour areas damaged by the storm Friday in an effort to get emergency funding.
AERIAL VIDEO: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
AERIAL PICS: Daytona | Ormond | Pt. Orange
Congressman John Mica will inspect the damage in Volusia County Friday morning. Despite the flooding, Governor Crist still has not yet declared a state of emergency.Also Friday morning, Daytona Beach will have an emergency City Commission meeting to declare a state of emergency in the city.
NEARLY 80 HOMES DAMAGED IN ORMOND BEACHMany Ormond Beach residents are frustrated as they try to clean up after nearly two feet of rain fell. As of Friday morning, nearly 80 homes have been damaged.Residents tell Eyewitness News that in addition to the flooding and continuing rainfall, they are dealing with sightseers creating more problems."I don't really think we expected it to be this bad," said Chris Hoch, resident.While the flood waters slowly recede, residents on Hand Avenue are doing what they can to clean up, but it is not always working."Getting the water out [is the problem]. As the water recedes I'm fighting what's already in the house," said Hoch.In the last thirty years, the people here say no hurricane or tropical storm has flooded the street like this recent storm."I've been doing it for an hour or so. It's gone down. I have about two inches left," said another longtime local resident.All residents can do now is exercise patience and wait for the flood waters to drain away.Officials and residents in this Ormond Beach neighborhood are asking sightseers and curious onlookers to stay away from the flooded areas to avoid causing even more damage to the homes.
DELTONA POWER OUTAGESUtilities crews are hard at work trying to restore power to several hundred homes in Deltona.Deltona police told Eyewitness News that approximately 200 homes were without power and in the dark Friday morning.The outage is on the southeast side of town, near Doyle Road and Fort Smith Boulevard.Florida Power and Light workers are trying to determine what caused the outage.
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.
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."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.
Previous Stories:
- May 21, 2009: Residents Trapped In Homes Due To Disastrous Flooding
- May 20, 2009: Heavy Rain Causing Flooding In Holly Hill
- May 19, 2009: Residents Fear Flooding Amid Drainage Issues
Copyright 2009 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Pump Patrol 
Theme Park Guide 
Central Florida's Medical City 
Bored Room 
Buy It For Half 
