From drought to deluge

BEACON PHOTO/AL EVERSON
Not a good day for a picnic — Despite the lush tropical setting and the beautiful fountain in the lake, you may want to skip an outing in Pooser Park in Orange City, unless you are a duck that finds the weather quite pleasant. Several inches of rain brought the water to the street level, but thus far there is no flooding in the vicinity of the park.

10.6 inches of rain recorded in DeLand

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted May 20, 2009 - 4:59:52pm

In less than a week, wildfire dangers have given way to worries about possible high-water concerns.

Any prayers for rain were answered with downpours of several inches, as gray and gloomy skies, 100-percent humidity, wet roads and full retention ponds conjured up memories of Tropical Storm Fay. Fortunately, however, the current rain has fallen over four days in more moderate amounts than the area received when Fay visited Aug. 21.

"This is exactly what we needed," said Volusia County Groundwater Program Manager Tom Carey.

During the afternoon clearing May 20, Carey noted 10.6 inches of rain had fallen at the DeLand Wastewater Treatment Plant on South Amelia Avenue between Sunday night, May 17, and Wednesday morning, May 20. A total of 9.54 inches of rain fell during the same period at the Daytona Beach International Airport, he added.

Because of the drenching, the county lifted the ban on outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas and in the cities of DeBary, Lake Helen, Oak Hill and Pierson.

Standing water closed the segment of South Amelia Avenue between East Beresford and East New Hampshire avenues.

In Deltona, Assistant City Manager Dave Denny said he had received no reports of any flooding, as he noted 6.3 inches had been recorded at City Hall between 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, and 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 20.

"We seem to have a handle on it," added Denny, when asked if stormwater system is working properly.

However, one home in Deltona suffered some wind damage May 19. A screen porch at 701 Eldron Court was blown apart, Denny said, but no one was injured.

During Tropical Storm Fay, several low-lying Deltona streets became impassable, and some residents had to leave their homes because too much rain came too quickly.

Orange City experienced flooding on North Industrial Drive, in front of the Post Office, Tuesday, May 19, but the street is now clear. The lake in Pooser Park, had water touching Elm Drive.

"Orange City remains in great shape," said Community Relations Coordinator Angel Smith.

While lake levels are rising in DeBary, there are no reports of flooding of homes.

Some flooding problems occurred in the eastern portion of the county, however. Some streets in Daytona Beach, Holly Hill, Ormond Beach and Port Orange had to be closed. The Westside Baptist Church at 777 Colfax Drive, Daytona Beach, was opened as a shelter for residents who had to leave their saturated homes.

The Public Works Departments of Ormond Beach, Port Orange and South Daytona also offered sandbags to residents needing to hold back encroaching stormwater.

— al@beacononlinenews.com

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