Frustrated Volusia flooding victims raise suspicion of deliberate pond breaches
Gary Taylor and Rachael Jackson Sentinel Staff Writers
September 11, 2008
Tropical Storm Fay dumped so much rain so fast that massive ponds designed to hold once-a-century downpours failed, prompting speculation of intentional breaches in swollen man-made lakes.
Law enforcement, city officials and regional water regulators say they have no evidence that anyone breached ponds in southwest Volusia to prevent flooding on their properties.
The claims, including one the Volusia County Sheriff's Office is reviewing, signal the ongoing frustration of storm-weary residents still looking for answers about what went wrong and reassurances it won't happen again -- as Fay's remnants leave behind moldy homes, soggy lawns and swarms of mosquitoes.
Residents can learn more about DeBary's plans to deal with long-standing stormwater problems during a City Council meeting at 6 p.m. today at Florence K. Little Town Hall, 12 Colomba Road.
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-flood1108sep11,0,5963977.story
Showing posts with label Tropical Storm Fay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tropical Storm Fay. Show all posts
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Floodwaters wash fire ants into home, man dies of bites
Man fatally bitten by fire ants that washed into his home
Willoughby Mariano Gary Taylor and Vincent Bradshaw, Sentinel Staff Writers
August 28, 2008
Tropical Storm Fay continued its deadly streak when a Chuluota-area man was bitten to death by fire ants that washed into his flooded home, authorities announced Wednesday.
It also caused more destruction and anxiety. The St. Johns River spilled over the sea wall into downtown Sanford. In DeBary, where more than 130 homes were flooded, residents worried after a sinkhole swallowed trees and damaged a road.
State Road 46 -- a major road in Volusia, Seminole and Brevard counties -- remained blocked because of rising waters from nearby Lake Harney that sent snakes, alligators, and rabbits swimming for higher ground.
And still, the floodwaters continued to rise.
The St. Johns River remained 7 inches to 2 1/2 feet above flood stage in Astor, DeLand, Sanford and Lake Harney. Waters in all but the Astor location were expected to rise through the weekend.
The storm's latest victim was described as a man "60-plus years old" who went into anaphylactic shock after receiving multiple fire-ant bites Tuesday morning. Because of flooding, rescue crews were delayed in reaching him. He was taken to a hospital, where he died that night, said Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris.
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Willoughby Mariano Gary Taylor and Vincent Bradshaw, Sentinel Staff Writers
August 28, 2008
Tropical Storm Fay continued its deadly streak when a Chuluota-area man was bitten to death by fire ants that washed into his flooded home, authorities announced Wednesday.
It also caused more destruction and anxiety. The St. Johns River spilled over the sea wall into downtown Sanford. In DeBary, where more than 130 homes were flooded, residents worried after a sinkhole swallowed trees and damaged a road.
State Road 46 -- a major road in Volusia, Seminole and Brevard counties -- remained blocked because of rising waters from nearby Lake Harney that sent snakes, alligators, and rabbits swimming for higher ground.
And still, the floodwaters continued to rise.
The St. Johns River remained 7 inches to 2 1/2 feet above flood stage in Astor, DeLand, Sanford and Lake Harney. Waters in all but the Astor location were expected to rise through the weekend.
The storm's latest victim was described as a man "60-plus years old" who went into anaphylactic shock after receiving multiple fire-ant bites Tuesday morning. Because of flooding, rescue crews were delayed in reaching him. He was taken to a hospital, where he died that night, said Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris.
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Saturday, August 23, 2008
Is New Orleans in danger of flooding again with Fay?
Tropical Storm Fay came with so much rain that it was being measured by feet instead of inches. Today, it's still raining in Central Florida, just outside of Orlando. We lost count how many times we drained the pool because it was flooding onto the deck and between the wind and rain, we just had to replace our garage door. We were lucky here but on the coast, streets are flooded and so are homes. They had alligators, snakes and fish swimming down streets. Over 50 homes were damaged by tornadoes spawned off Fay. Two women drowned at beaches, a worker died from electrocution, a man died from fumes of a generator and there were several other deaths. This thing is a monster! It made landfall 4 times in Florida alone.
The problem is, she is heading to New Orleans. Are they ready? Are the levees going to be a bigger problem when the rain dumps feet into New Orleans? After reading this, I doubt they are ready for much at all.
New Orleans repeating deadly levee mistakes
Associated Press
Published: Saturday August 23, 2008
NEW ORLEANS - Signs are emerging that history is repeating itself in the Big Easy, still healing from Katrina: People have forgotten a lesson from four decades ago and believe once again that the federal government is constructing a levee system they can prosper behind.
In a yearlong review of levee work here, The Associated Press has tracked a pattern of public misperception, political jockeying and legal fighting, along with economic and engineering miscalculations since Katrina, that threaten to make New Orleans the scene of another devastating flood.
Dozens of interviews with engineers, historians, policymakers and flood zone residents confirmed many have not learned from public policy mistakes made after Hurricane Betsy in 1965, which set the stage for Katrina; many mistakes are being repeated.
"People forget, but they cannot afford to forget," said Windell Curole, a Louisiana hurricane and levee expert. "If you believe you can't flood, that's when you increase the risk of flooding. In New Orleans, I don't think they talk about the risk."
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Friday, August 22, 2008
Fay finally going away!
Tropical Storm Fay moving away from Central Florida
Aug 22, 2008 10:09 -0400
Updated: 6 minutes ago
At 8 a.m., the center of the tropical storm approached Gainsville, forecasters said. Fay should continue to head west for the next couple of days. Latest Updates from the Hurricane Blog
Wekiva Falls residents evacuated
No part of Seminole spared by Fay's rath
Brevard County Health Department closed Friday
More than 5,000 homes without power in Brevard
Rollins open; University of Florida, Brevard Community College closed
Aug 22, 2008 10:09 -0400
Updated: 6 minutes ago
At 8 a.m., the center of the tropical storm approached Gainsville, forecasters said. Fay should continue to head west for the next couple of days. Latest Updates from the Hurricane Blog
Wekiva Falls residents evacuated
No part of Seminole spared by Fay's rath
Brevard County Health Department closed Friday
More than 5,000 homes without power in Brevard
Rollins open; University of Florida, Brevard Community College closed
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Woman drowns as Fay comes ashore again
Woman drowns as Fay comes ashore again
Story Highlights
NEW: Woman's drowning in northeastern Florida blamed on storm
Weather service records 26 inches of rain near Melbourne, Florida
Rainfall could reach 30 inches in some areas, forecast says
FLAGLER BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Fay was slowly crossing the northeast Florida coast Thursday, making its third U.S. landfall after causing serious flooding in parts of the state.
More than 26 inches of rain had fallen in the Melbourne area by Thursday morning. President Bush declared a state of emergency for Florida, freeing federal funds to aid disaster relief efforts.
Authorities blamed the storm for at least one death Thursday afternoon. In Neptune Beach in northeastern Florida, a woman drowned after going into the ocean with her boyfriend and his brother, said Tony Carrillo, assistant chief of the Neptune Beach Police Department.
Carrillo said weather conditions "definitely contributed to her drowning."
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/08/21/tropical.storm.fay/index.html
Story Highlights
NEW: Woman's drowning in northeastern Florida blamed on storm
Weather service records 26 inches of rain near Melbourne, Florida
Rainfall could reach 30 inches in some areas, forecast says
FLAGLER BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Fay was slowly crossing the northeast Florida coast Thursday, making its third U.S. landfall after causing serious flooding in parts of the state.
More than 26 inches of rain had fallen in the Melbourne area by Thursday morning. President Bush declared a state of emergency for Florida, freeing federal funds to aid disaster relief efforts.
Authorities blamed the storm for at least one death Thursday afternoon. In Neptune Beach in northeastern Florida, a woman drowned after going into the ocean with her boyfriend and his brother, said Tony Carrillo, assistant chief of the Neptune Beach Police Department.
Carrillo said weather conditions "definitely contributed to her drowning."
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/08/21/tropical.storm.fay/index.html
Fay parked off Florida coast and needs to move
updated 1 minute ago
Fay parks off Florida coast
Tropical Storm Fay is hovering just off Florida's east coast, dumping relentless rains and causing what Gov. Charlie Crist calls "historic flooding." The storm is expected to make its third Florida landfall later today and move slowly over the northern peninsula. Fay has sustained winds of 60 mph and may pour 30 inches of rain in some areas. full story
Fay parks off Florida coast
Tropical Storm Fay is hovering just off Florida's east coast, dumping relentless rains and causing what Gov. Charlie Crist calls "historic flooding." The storm is expected to make its third Florida landfall later today and move slowly over the northern peninsula. Fay has sustained winds of 60 mph and may pour 30 inches of rain in some areas. full story
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Fay drenches parts of Florida; 8,000 homes flooded
Story Highlights
NEW: Rainfall could reach 30 inches in some areas, forecast says
Airboats help rescue people in flooded homes in St. Lucie County
Kennedy Space Center will remain closed for a second day
Track Fay with CNN's Hurricane Tracker
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (CNN) -- While residents were rescued by airboats from their homes Wednesday in southeast Florida, Tropical Storm Fay churned in the Atlantic ocean likely gearing for a return to dump more water on the state this week.
National Guard troops rescued seven people from a trailer park in southern Brevard county that was surrounded by high water, a spokesman said.
As many as 8,000 homes in two low-lying areas may have been damaged, the St. Lucie County Public Safety Department said.
"We've never seen anything like this," Sheriff Ken Mascara said, adding that officials had expected the storm to follow a more northern path.
"Last night the eye actually skirted St. Lucie County. We were on the southside of the eye," Mascara said.
"It actually became stationary last night at one point, and that's the reason why we have so much water today. We thought we'd get maybe 4 or 5 inches of rain with this weather, and we got closer to 15."
Bethany Schulstrom, 16, an iReport contributor, said water was up to people's knees in the streets of Port St. Lucie. "They sent a warning to everyone not to leave [their homes] because the snakes are coming out of their holes and there's fish everywhere," she said.
Near the north fork of the St. Lucie River, water gushed down streets and lapped at the doors of parked cars.
Meg Defore said that the first floor of her home was 14 feet above ground but water had reached the top of her doors. She left in a small boat.
Meanwhile, Susan Thul sat on her porch, waving to passers-by. She vowed to stay in her house because she said the water reportedly had reached its highest point.
In Melbourne, where a 50-year-old rainfall record was shattered, residents have been warned of an alligator swimming in the streets, according to CNN affiliate WKMG-TV in Orlando.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/08/20/tropical.storm.fay/index.html
Story Highlights
NEW: Rainfall could reach 30 inches in some areas, forecast says
Airboats help rescue people in flooded homes in St. Lucie County
Kennedy Space Center will remain closed for a second day
Track Fay with CNN's Hurricane Tracker
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (CNN) -- While residents were rescued by airboats from their homes Wednesday in southeast Florida, Tropical Storm Fay churned in the Atlantic ocean likely gearing for a return to dump more water on the state this week.
National Guard troops rescued seven people from a trailer park in southern Brevard county that was surrounded by high water, a spokesman said.
As many as 8,000 homes in two low-lying areas may have been damaged, the St. Lucie County Public Safety Department said.
"We've never seen anything like this," Sheriff Ken Mascara said, adding that officials had expected the storm to follow a more northern path.
"Last night the eye actually skirted St. Lucie County. We were on the southside of the eye," Mascara said.
"It actually became stationary last night at one point, and that's the reason why we have so much water today. We thought we'd get maybe 4 or 5 inches of rain with this weather, and we got closer to 15."
Bethany Schulstrom, 16, an iReport contributor, said water was up to people's knees in the streets of Port St. Lucie. "They sent a warning to everyone not to leave [their homes] because the snakes are coming out of their holes and there's fish everywhere," she said.
Near the north fork of the St. Lucie River, water gushed down streets and lapped at the doors of parked cars.
Meg Defore said that the first floor of her home was 14 feet above ground but water had reached the top of her doors. She left in a small boat.
Meanwhile, Susan Thul sat on her porch, waving to passers-by. She vowed to stay in her house because she said the water reportedly had reached its highest point.
In Melbourne, where a 50-year-old rainfall record was shattered, residents have been warned of an alligator swimming in the streets, according to CNN affiliate WKMG-TV in Orlando.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/08/20/tropical.storm.fay/index.html
Florida man caught in tornado: "You name it, it was flying"
Man caught in tornado: 'You name it and it was flying'
Aug 20, 2008
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John Spielman was sweeping water off his patio when a gust of wind pushed his gas grill against him -- sending both him and the grill flying.
Tropical Storm Fay drifts over Cape Canaveral, causes flooding
Aug 20, 2008 08:55 -0400
generateDate('Aug 20, 2008 08:55 -0400', '8:55 AM');
Updated: 39 minutes ago
At theme parks, tourists play despite Fay
Aug 20, 2008
generateDate('Aug 20, 2008', '');
Possible tornado from Tropical Storm Fay damages 51 homes in Brevard; 3 arrested on looting charges
Aug 20, 2008
generateDate('Aug 20, 2008', '');
John Spielman was sweeping water off his patio when a gust of wind pushed his gas grill against him -- sending both him and the grill flying.
Tropical Storm Fay drifts over Cape Canaveral, causes flooding
Aug 20, 2008 08:55 -0400
generateDate('Aug 20, 2008 08:55 -0400', '8:55 AM');
Updated: 39 minutes ago
At theme parks, tourists play despite Fay
Aug 20, 2008
generateDate('Aug 20, 2008', '');
Possible tornado from Tropical Storm Fay damages 51 homes in Brevard; 3 arrested on looting charges
Fay may 'boomerang' and hit Florida again
Fay may 'boomerang' and hit Florida again
Tropical Storm Fay moved off the east coast of Florida early today after spawning at least seven tornadoes, the National Hurricane Center reported. The storm is expected to get stronger and make a hard left back into the northeastern part of the state. "Looks like it could be a boomerang storm," said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. full story
Tropical Storm Fay moved off the east coast of Florida early today after spawning at least seven tornadoes, the National Hurricane Center reported. The storm is expected to get stronger and make a hard left back into the northeastern part of the state. "Looks like it could be a boomerang storm," said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. full story
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
TS Fay surprised forecasters when strength was gained
N-J David Tucker
A family takes photos of an approaching feeder band on the beach this morning at the International Speedway Boulevard approach as Tropical Storm Fay approaches.
Fay defies forecasters again, top winds increase to 65 mph
UPDATED 4:29 p.m. Tropical Storm Fay has surprised forecasters today by gaining strength when the opposite was expected. Top winds have increased to 65 mph.
More information:·
What you need to know: Shelters, closings, cancelations, hotlines
· AP: Fay moving across Florida
· Projected storm track Latest advisory
· Interactive hurricane tracker
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