State of EmergencyThursday, November 5
Gov. DeSantis widens the flood state of emergency beyond Brevard County
The Daily Melbourne team
Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the order Wednesday to include Lake, Seminole and Volusia counties, plus Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties in South Florida. WESH says the order now notes that National Weather Service forecasts expect the St. Johns River to flood, which could last several weeks.
The emergency order grew over three days
- Oct. 31A low-pressure area begins bringing heavy rain across parts of Florida.
- Nov. 2DeSantis declares a state of emergency for seven counties, including Brevard.
- Nov. 4The order expands to Lake, Seminole and Volusia counties and four South Florida counties.
The St. Johns River is rising toward major flood stage, threatening homes and roads across Brevard County. The water is draining into the river's southern end, and the river flows slowly north toward the Atlantic near Jacksonville.
Monday's flood was historic
- 2+ feet
- of rain fell in Brevard County on Monday
- 1-in-1,000
- year flooding event, as WKMG describes it
- 60 days
- the original order stays in effect unless extended
- Activates the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard
- Frees up state agencies to coordinate logistics and resources
- Price-gouging protections: essential goods and services in the original seven counties
DeSantis signed the first order Monday, Executive Order 26-227, after flooding stranded vehicles in West Melbourne.
Sources: WKMG, WESH, Florida Today, WFTV