EDGEWATER, Fla. – A young couple’s home on Umbrella Tree Drive flooded Friday for the third time since they purchased the property last March, leaving water-damaged appliances, carpets and personal belongings strewn in their driveway and bound for the dump.
“We had to take everything out to get to the floor from underneath the toilet,” the Days said as they watched soaked furniture and household goods being removed.
The toilet, carpet, appliances and many other possessions were placed curbside after being ruined by floodwater.
“The water was up to here and flowing into the house, it was five, six inches just flowing around,” the couple added, describing the depth and speed of the water as it entered the home.
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Although the Edgewater residence is not located in a designated flood zone, Csenge and Alex Day said their lot sits at a lower elevation than others in the neighborhood, making it uniquely vulnerable when nearby canals rise. Neighbors on higher ground have not experienced similar damage.
“Whenever the canal fills up, all the water rushes in here and then as the water is running off down the street it keeps flowing into here because we are so low,” they said, explaining why the property repeatedly floods.
[RELATED VIDEO: Residents battle repeated flooding in Edgewater neighborhood]
The Days also said they were not informed of prior flooding problems when they bought the house. That lack of disclosure, they contend, has left them unable to sell the property and facing costly repairs.
“We can’t sell it, no one wants to buy it,” they said, noting they may need assistance from federal programs such as FEMA or other agencies to lift the house or undertake major reconstruction.
While the couple carries flood insurance, they say it does not cover all losses. Lifting the foundation or dismantling and rebuilding the home would cost thousands of dollars beyond what their policy will pay.
“You can never be too safe; we weren’t even in a flood zone and now we know that it is very helpful to have flood insurance just in case, especially in the state of Florida,” the Days said.
[RELATED VIDEO: Building developments blamed for flooding in Edgewater neighborhood]
A local charity has begun fundraising to help the family cover immediate costs.
You can contact Community for a Cause at CommunityforacauseInc@gmail.com for more information.