PORT ORANGE, Fla. – One couple says flooding isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a danger to their family.
Mike and Sarah Sweeney, who live on Eddy Lane with their five children - two of them with disabilities, say each storm brings new stress and fear.
The Sweeneys say their worst experience came during Hurricane Milton, when floodwaters forced their family to be rescued from their home.
“I’ve never seen that before. We started putting everything up in the garage, and I was getting the kids prepared to leave, to evacuate. We came out and put the stick there to see because the water kept coming closer and closer. Water was coming from over there. It was coming everywhere,” Sarah Sweeney said.
“Every time it rains, they freak out,” Sarah Sweeney said. “But we try to stay calm, but it’s scary for them.”
“It’s definitely changed the way we live and we’re checking the weather reports like every day. You have to have this constant state of, like, you don’t want to be worried about the future, but you do have a contingency. It’s always on your mind,” her husband Mike Sweeney added.
Flooding isn’t limited to Eddy Lane. Across the Sleepy Hollow subdivision, residents have reported water in yards and driveways.
In Volusia County, a gymnastics center took on water, streets in New Smyrna Beach flooded, and cars on Brittany Avenue were nearly submerged.
Families like the Sweeneys say they are bracing for more rain and are still waiting for the city to provide a long-term solution.
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