‘Our yards are like a mudslide’: Astor homes still underwater from Hurricane Ian

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — It’s been nearly a month since the St. Johns River reached historic levels because of Hurricane Ian, but some people living in Lake County are still dealing with issues.

Officials said the water levels of the St. Johns River in the community of Astor broke a record dating back to 1933.

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The water has come down, but in that area, the level is still well above the flood stage.

Some Astor residents who don’t have the floodwater in their homes anymore have it around their homes. They say it smells like dead fish.

“It’s been a rough ride,” Cathy Lynn said. “The water has gone down some now. Before, the dock was covered, and the yard was full of water and [it was] in our garage.”

Read: Astor residents deal with record flooding after Hurricane Ian

The water level has dropped around 11 inches, but it’s been gradual, and the river is still about a foot and a half above flood stage.

“It smells terrible out here,” Lynn said. “Our yards are like a mudslide.”

In other parts of town, residents still have water in their homes, and they’re just now dealing with insurance adjusters.

Read: 10 families saved from flooding in Lake County

Lynn said some of her neighbors have already received assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but she’s still going through the process.

She said she’s tired of the water, tired of the hassles that come with it and is now looking for a new place to rent outside of the area to avoid dealing with a flood like this again.

Read: Hurricane Ian disaster recovery center to open in Lake County

VIDEO: Astor residents deal with record-breaking flooding after Hurricane Ian Astor residents deal with record-breaking flooding after Hurricane Ian

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