Eye on the Tropics

‘This is unbelievable’: Deputies rescue Orlo Vista residents trapped by Hurricane Ian’s floodwaters

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County deputies on Thursday were rescuing Orlo Vista residents stranded by Hurricane Ian’s flood waters.

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Residents who live on Hope Circle have seen flooding issues before with Hurricane Irma, but never as bad as it was Thursday.

One resident told Channel 9 that she saw no floodwaters at about 4 a.m. But that was not the case when she had to be rescued at about 6:30 a.m.

Watch: Drone video shows extensive flooding around large hospital in Kissimmee

When she opened her front door, floodwaters started rushing into her home.

She said she tried to drive to escape with her daughter and grandchild in her pickup truck, but the vehicle stalled in the floodwaters.

“This is unbelievable,” she said.

Watch: Orange County nursing home evacuated due to rising flood waters

Deputies are evacuating people and their pets and relocating them to a shelter at Ocoee High School and a nearby motel.

So far, at least 200 people have been rescued in the area.

Watch live, continuous coverage of the storm’s aftermath on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

Jason Kelly joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2014. He serves as the station's Digital Executive Producer.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

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