MELBOURNE, Fla. — Residents of Lamplighter Village are beginning the long recovery process after catastrophic flash flooding swept through the neighborhood Tuesday, leaving behind damage and debris many say they have never seen before.
The flooding was strong enough to carry personal belongings across the community.
During Channel 9 live coverage Wednesday morning, a truck returned a resident’s kayak after it floated to the opposite side of the complex. Residents also pointed to a decorative buoy that had been located at the front of the neighborhood but ended up in the back after the floodwaters receded.
Resident Sherry Key said her family’s kayak had been secured next to their home, but rising water lifted it away.
“It was secured to the side of our house. So we thought it would be okay, because water typically never gets out, much less it got up to like three feet around our house, so with that it floated off.” Key said.
Other residents described water levels reaching several steps up their homes. One resident said he even used a paddle board during the flooding to take his dog outside.
Many in the neighborhood said the flooding was unlike anything they had experienced, including during major hurricanes.
Sherry Key said she regularly checks the area during storms and was shocked by the extent of the flooding this week.
“we had the two hurricanes back to back. So every time a hurricane, I would come over here and walk around and the water wasn’t even up. So I was very, very surprised.” Key said.
As cleanup efforts continue, Brevard county officials are urging those with flood damage to fill out an online form.
You can find that here.
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