TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Historic flooding prompted a state of emergency in north Brevard County.
After more than 15 inches of rain fell in Titusville since Sunday night, some roads were still flooded Tuesday.
Titusville Community Correspondent James Sparvero recorded Robin Hood Avenue looking like it became part of the lake next to it at Sherwood Park.
[VIDEO: Heavy rain slams Titusville as officials warn of hazardous conditions amid flash flood warnings]
The Red Cross opened a shelter at the First United Methodist church downtown for those displaced.
Mayor Andrew Connors told Sparvero how people in need can get help.
“The American Red Cross is out here providing a warm place to stay, hot meals, cleanup kits, everything that people will need to get a start in recovery,” the mayor said.
[VIDEO: Heavy rain floods streets across Brevard County; here are the roads to avoid]
In this difficult time, Connors conveyed a message of hope to the community.
“It’s just very important that we stay together and come together so we that we can help build each other back up,” he said.
Sparvero then asked Connors to respond to those who flooding is made worse by overdevelopment and aging infrastructure.
The mayor said the rain totals were a once in a generation storm, according to city engineers.
“Normally, 15 inches of rain doesn’t happen in 12 hours,” Connors said. “I don’t think that’s likely to happen again, but while we learn these lessons, we will continue to improve and get better.”
[VIDEO: Heavy rain floods streets across Brevard County; here are the roads to avoid]
The mayor said he’ll talk more about redoing the city’s stormwater master plan at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
For residents who want sandbags to protect their homes, the city’s still giving them away at the public works building on Singleton Avenue near Garden Street.
At the shelter, Benjamin Runion was thankful to have a place to stay for a night or two.
“This is a wonderful place to be right now,” Runion said. “And I never had no idea that this was gonna happen to me today, but, you know, it’s in God’s plan.”