Florida Expands State of Emergency to 14 Counties Amid Flooding

Florida has expanded its state of emergency declaration to 14 counties amid deadly flooding, with Governor Ron DeSantis adding Seminole, Volusia and Lake counties.

The federal government reported that at the forecasted water levels, homes in the Stone Island and Still Brook subdivisions would be surrounded by water, and roads would flood around Enterprise Road and the Bethel Loop subdivision.

Counties Enact States of Emergency

Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties enacted local states of emergency and activated their emergency operations centers on Nov. 2, due to impacts from king tides, heavy rainfall, flooding and beach erosion. Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce also declared local states of emergency, with Fort Pierce closing administrative offices and facilities on Nov. 3 because of flooding and hazardous roadway conditions.

Gov. DeSantis expands State of Emergency to 3 more Central Florida counties

Indian River County opened two shelters, Sebastian River Middle School and Osceola Magnet School, on Nov. 2, though they closed the afternoon of Nov. 3 due to a lack of demand. Seminole County closed several parks, including Black Bear Wilderness Area and Cameron Wight Park, and started sandbag operations, offering 3,000 pre-filled sandbags to residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

Weather Service Reports Heavy Rainfall

The agency forecasts rain chances of about 60 percent on Nov. 3 and 50 percent into Nov. 4.

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Victor Lebron, who boated along the St. Johns River on Wednesday, described the river as super high and said a lot of water close to the property, expressing concern about rising water levels. If the river crests at 6.5 feet, NOAA predicted water would enter a few lower-lying homes in the Stone Island and Stillbrook subdivisions, and roads into Stone Island would become impassable.

Residents Advised to Avoid Floodwaters

Residents were advised to take precautions against floodwaters. Those with flooded wells were warned to use bottled water or boil water for drinking, and to avoid contact with floodwaters, especially if they have open cuts or sores. On septic systems, residents were told to conserve water and avoid pumping their tanks, as high-water tables might crush a dry tank.

DeSantis expands flooding state of emergency to 7 more Florida counties, including Glades and Hendry

Todd Kimberlain, lead meteorologist for the South Florida Water Management District, described the ongoing Super El Niño conditions as the climate event of the century, noting it is forecast to deluge Florida with a record wet winter and continue through early spring. He did not rule out the possibility of tornadoes along the Treasure Coast.