PORT ORANGE, Fla – Overnight storms Sunday night dumped several inches of rain in Volusia County, leaving residents and businesses in Port Orange flooded.
In the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood, just four inches of rain caused significant water buildup around homes.
“It’s disheartening to hear there’s going to be more rain this week after a one-hour rainstorm did all of that damage. What happened was the drains weren’t draining,” said resident Tina Stevenson.
[VIDEO BELOW: Flooding concerns in Port Orange]
Tina and Kevin Stevenson’s home sits elevated compared to their road, yet it was under several inches of water inside Sunday night.
The homeowners had French drains installed after hurricanes in 2022 and 2024 flooded the area, hoping to prevent future damage.
“When it gets flooded back there, it’s supposed to just go through the pipes and drains and go to the main drains in the cul-de-sac. It couldn’t do that because that was backed up,” Stevenson said.
Flooding was not limited to Sleepy Hollow. Lauren Benning, who lives on Brittany Avenue off Spruce Creek Road, said water nearly covered her car parked in the street.
“I don’t remember our street being so flooded from just a regular rainstorm. Something is just not right,” Benning said.
Benning said it’s becoming a more regular occurrence even during lesser storms.
Homeowners are now questioning whether the city’s promised updates to the stormwater system are effective.
“It begs the question: what are they doing? What kind of work are they doing? Are they coming out and actually checking their drains to see if they’re clogged?” asked Kevin Stevenson.
The city of Port Orange sent the below statement to News 6 on Monday evening regarding the flooding:
“On Sunday night, the City of Port Orange experienced a relatively short but very intense rain event during a full moon and a high tide. City gauges recorded 4.23 inches of rainfall, with 3.88 inches falling within one hour. The storm caused temporary ponding and some road closures, which generally cleared within one to two hours after the heavy rains stopped. The City’s focus is on keeping stormwater out of structures and based on initial reports a limited number were affected.
The City’s stormwater team conducts regular maintenance of ditches, pipes, and storm drains throughout the year, with a particular focus on older neighborhoods built before modern drainage standards that are more vulnerable to flooding.
Crews routinely clear the tops of storm drains to help maintain water flow. With additional rainfall and king tides expected this week, crews will continue proactive cleaning in flood-prone areas and review further options to help reduce impacts. Residents are encouraged to keep storm drains near their homes free of debris and to report concerns through SeeClickFix.
The City has also completed a stormwater master plan and vulnerability assessment to better identify and address flood-prone areas. Earlier this year, Port Orange secured state funding for projects, including $3 million for the Sugar Forest drainage improvements. Grant applications are pending for several other projects in the most vulnerable areas including Sleepy Hollow, Portona, and more."
City of Port Orange