St. Johns River expected to reach 17 feet by weekend in Central Florida
Emergency managers in Brevard, Volusia, and Seminole counties are preparing for secondary flooding as water levels rise following 22 inches of recent rainfall.
By Victoria Hayes ·
Emergency officials in Brevard, Volusia, and Seminole counties are preparing for continued flooding as the St. Johns River is forecast to reach a peak of 17 feet by the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for areas near the river, indicating the water will remain at moderate to major flood stages for several days.
Heavy rains that began Sunday deposited up to 22 inches of water across parts of Brevard County. While water levels are receding in some areas, officials warn that the water is moving north into the Peace and St. Johns River systems. This shift is causing secondary flooding in regions that either experienced the initial flooding or avoided it entirely.
Don Walker, of Brevard County Emergency Management, described the current situation as an anomaly where northward flow is creating new flood risks. He noted that the water is expected to stay at its peak of 17 feet for a couple of days after reaching that level. Walker stated that residents in areas west of I-95 should expect potential severe flooding going into the weekend.
Brevard County is opening additional shelters and suggesting evacuations for at-risk zones. Two shelters are currently open: the South Mainland Community Center at 3700 Allen Avenue in Micco and the American Red Cross shelter at the Wickham Park Senior Center at 2785 Leisure Way in Melbourne. Boil water notices remain in effect for parts of Brevard County, including the city of Melbourne.
Volusia County is taking precautionary measures by encouraging residents to stock supplies and distributing sandbags. Clayton Jackson, the county’s Public Information Officer, said it is too early to determine exactly how specific properties and roadways will be affected. The county continues to monitor conditions with the National Weather Service and partners.
Seminole County has placed a no wake zone on local waters and closed several launches and parks, including Mullet Lake Park, Cameron Wight Park, and the Econ Canoe Launch. The county remains under a local state of emergency and is closely watching flood-prone areas near the Little Wekiva River and the St. Johns River system. Sandbag distribution sites are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Old Geneva Volunteer Fire Station at 217 2nd Street in Geneva and the overflow lot at Boombah Sports Complex at 3325 Cameron Avenue in Sanford.
