Flood RecoverySaturday, November 7
Brevard is working on a federal disaster request after floods damaged more than 2000 homes
The Daily Melbourne team
If the flood hit your home or business, report it. Brevard County is working to submit a disaster declaration request to the state after historic rain damaged more than 2000 homes, and it needs damage assessments to do it.
Brevard needs to document two damage thresholds
- More than 2000
- homes damaged by the historic rain
- $3 million
- at least, in Brevard damage, one threshold
- $42 million
- at least, in damage across the state
Source: WFTV
Palm Bay's emergency preparedness coordinator, Morgan Combs, urges you to document damage because of those thresholds. Don Walker of Brevard County Emergency Management said assessments and repairs "could go on for months and months."
Federal help takes five steps
| Step | Who |
|---|---|
| Initial damage assessments | Brevard County |
| Joint damage assessments | FEMA and Florida Division of Emergency Management |
| Disaster declaration request | Brevard County, to the state |
| Major disaster declaration to FEMA | The governor |
| Final decision | FEMA and the president |
Source: WFTV
- Report damage: Brevard County's online form, for residents and businesses
- Need volunteers? Submit a request through the portal
- If FEMA steps in, the city and county will post updates on social media
- Melbourne: boil-water advisory in place as of Tue., Nov. 3
Florida Today reports record rains caused sewage spills across the county, including a large discharge into the Indian River Lagoon. In Palm Bay Estates, a washout and road collapse along Indian River Drive left residents unable to drive out. Palm Bay Fire Rescue partnered with World Central Kitchen to feed residents Thursday, volunteers carried meals house to house by golf cart, and repair work on the road began that day.
Sources: WFTV, WESH, Florida Today, Spectrum News 13