It is 5 days that the rain is non-stop. In Florida, where we used to good weather, and where a day without a sun is a wasted day, this is already a hardship.
But it is a real hardship for many, and not because of spoiled vacation, but because we are now officially waterfront, no matter where you are in Volusia, Flagler and many other Central Florida counties. Kayaks on the streets are not so exotic now, and even fishing from your porch is a reality.
But the gloomy reality is water rising and rising and taking homes. Many of which have no flood insurance, and there will be no mercy to the owners.
Some roads, evenmajor, are impassable, some schools are closed, three of them in Volusia county, it is a mess.
And it is not even a hurricane, it is some storm, I think, it is even unnamed, that wrecked the havoc upon us. Can you believe it? Residents of Holly Hill were asked to stay at home. More than 90% of the streets are under water.
According to the news report "Some areas of Flagler County have received as much as 27.5 inches of rain since Sunday afternoon and the water is beginning to take its toll on residents, facilities and crops in Flagler County."
In response Flagler County Emergency Operations center together with the Red Cross opened a shelter at the Flagler Beach United Methodist Church. The shelter is taking people who are flooded out of their homes or who can't reach their homes because of the high water levels.
In Volusia County officials counted 59 single family homes and 20 commercial properties damaged by flood.
In addition to schools, Daytona State College was closed on Thursday due to flooding. Volusia Council declared state of emergency. Just look at the nespapers: Flooding rains bring misery", "Fllod plague Daytona Middle School", "Floods cause $3 Million in Volusia County damage"...
The rainfall is far worse than even what the area got during tropical storm Fay last year.
One of the unfortunate victims is the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. Some of the apartment complexes in Daytona and Ormond are also flooded.
Flooding affected the sewer system. The sewer plant is getting 25 million gallons by afternoon, while on a normal day it gets 11 million gallons a day. We are asked to avoid washing clothes and flushing toilets (do you know how to avoid it?).
I live across A1A (a State Rd) from the Ocean. People often think that the closer you are to the ocean, the more danger is there, and not only from the Hurricanes, but also from the flood.
Well, this is not true. In reality, the properties right on the beach do not even have to have a flood insurance. Direct oceanfront buildings are sitting on a high dune at 14-18' above the sea level. Going west it is a different story. So, except for no sun, I would not even know that there is such a problem in the country if not the TV and newspapers. Because I live on the ocean and my office is in the oceanfront building, I do not see that.
I actually first time really paid attention to that when I called my daughter in Palm Coast, and she told me they do not have power and she could not help me with Internet. I know that our life depends on the computers, but I already forgot that computers need power.
Later, I got an e-mail from my son-in-law, and here are the photos that he took right there in Palm Coast. this is in the Cypress Knoll Section of Palm Coast. Not the hardest hit, they just happened to be in the area.
My son-in-law has an awesome sense of humor. Here's the text that accompanied the photos:
"Cypress Knoll is now waterfront property. Please update all listings to reflect the change."
Florida is a wonderful place. Never boring. If we do not have Hurricanes, we have fires. If we do not have fires, then we have floods. Our sharks bite more than in any other place in the world, but our sharks are gentle, and let people go with minor cuts... But this is the best place to live because we do not have earthquakes. What else makes Florida a great place to live? Our attitude.
With all the Hurricanes, fires and floods we have more great weather than the rest of the north-east combined, our beaches attract not only Sea Turtles, but people, cars and bikes.
Where else millions and millions come to a mouse, where adults feel like kids, and kids get the thrill of their life? Where else do we sigh in owe watching a shuttle piercing the night...
Flood or fire, hurricane or drought... We shall overcome.
And meanwhile, guys, today's special. Everything is waterfront. At unbeatable prices. Comes with free water
Photos and humor by Jon Hardison. Comments are mine
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