Last Updated: 5:51 p.m.
As of 9:35 Saturday morning, as much as 15 inches of rainfall had been reported at Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, and 9 inches in parts of the C Section, the W Section and Seminole Woods, in Palm Harbor’s C Section, in less than 24 hours since the downpours began Friday afternoon.
Late this morning, between 10:30 and 11:15, it was a tale of two cities: the areas northeast of Palm Coast Parkway, particularly the B Section along Bird of Paradise, were getting pounded again. The areas south of Palm Coast Parkway were under a mist at most, with swales seeing water levels drop from last night’s drenching. An image gallery appears below, documenting the resulting floods.
Two roads were closed in Palm Coast this morning: Luther Drive between the two Ludlows, and Bird of Paradise between Belle Terre and Matanzas Woods. Three other roads were closed in the county. For a full list of road closures and road hazards, see the chart below.
“We’re starting to get hit again and we’ve got a train of rain coming out of the Atlantic right now, from about Palm Coast Parkway north we’ve got rain,” Kevin Guthrie, Flagler’s Emergency Management director, said.
But as yet, reports of damage have been almost non-existent. “We’ve only received four folks, and that was last night,” Guthrie said, “that told us hey we have damage or found damage. We believe that number to be higher but we believe people are not calling us, and we believe they’re not calling is because they don’t know to call us, that’s why we put out the Code Red.”
Flagler County Emergency Management is requesting affected residents report any damage, residents may contact 386-313-4200. All other concerns and non-emergencies may be reported to 386-313-4911.
Listen to Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie’s Code Red Alert Issued Saturday Morning[media id=373 width=250 height=200]
Guthrie said that he issued a Code Red alert late this morning asking people to call in to report damage, and to try to limit all non-essential activities that cause waste water, such as laundry, irrigation and other activities that may burden the wastewater system.
Safety: Palm Coast spokesperson Cindi Lane cautions: “People should not be playing in the standing water – the water is primarily stormwater but it could be contaminated with fertilizer, pesticides, even overflowing sewers. We are working hard to keep those wastewater collection stations pumped out, but this storm has put a tremendous strain on our wastewater system.”
The extent of the flooding was made more apparent, beyond the numbers, by images taken by Flagler County Fire Flight, the county’s emergency helicopter, earlier today. The images show extensive flooding along streets in the B Section, many of which were entirely waterlogged. But the images just as sharply point to the unspoken hero of the last 24 hours of heavy rains: Palm Coast government regulation requiring homes to be set higher than streets, thus preventing such a rain event from having a more damaging effect than it had. The images show in sharp relief the regulation at work, channeling the water–and keeping it–in the streets, rather than in people’s living rooms. Builders grumble about such regulations. Homeowners do not, but seldom make the connection between the regulation and its benefits.
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville had issued a flood watch for Palm Coast and Flagler County through 8 p.m., then issued a flood warning, the third since 4:39 p.m. Friday, in effect until 1:15 p.m. today. All of Palm Coast is included in the warning. That means localized flooding is likely–and indeed has been taking place in vast swaths of the B Section.
Staring at 10:30 this morning, the B Section, hit hard Friday, was again getting pounded by heavy downpours as Bird of Paradise and its tributaries became less passable by the minute.
At 11:20 a.m., the National Weather Service’s doppler radar was indicating that area of very heavy rainfall over the northeast part of the county, with rain adding 2 to 3 inches to earlier totals, and another 1 to 2 inches in the forecast, at least through 1:15 p.m., when the latest warning is set to expire.
Excessive runoff from rain will cause flooding of small creeks, streams, canals, highways and streets. Do not drive your vehicle where the water covers the road, as vehicles will stall.
Flagler County Emergency’s Bob Pickering issued the following rain totals, from spotters around the county, as of 9:35 a.m. Keep in mind, these totals do not include the late morning downpours’ totals:
(Palm Coast Locations)
Water Plant 1 – Belle Terre and PC Parkway – 15.00″ – 9:29 AM
Water Plant 2 – Seminole Woods – 2.70″” – 9:29 AM
Water Plant 3 – US 1 North – 8.75″” – 9:29 AM
Lehigh Woods “R” Section – 3.64″ – 8:49 AM
Palm Harbor “C” Section – 9.08″ – 8:44 AM
Palm Harbor ” Northeast C” Section canals – 5.20″ – 7:53 AM
Palm Harbor “C” Section Central – 5.75″ 7:44 AM
Indian Trails “B” section – 9.68″ – 12:03 AM
Pine Lakes “W” Section – 9.00″ – 2:37 AM
Belle Terre and Pine Lakes North – 7.65″ – 11:53 PM
Elsewhere:
Eagle Rock Estates – 2.25″ – 7:44 AM
Mondex – 3.00″ – 8:56 AM
Flagler Beach – 1.78″ – 9:02 AM
“County officials are in the process of conducting damage assessments,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in a release issued at 1 p.m. “At this time, there have been reports of approximately 6 structures sustaining minor damage due to flooding. Law Enforcement officials have received additional reports of vehicles being abandoned in the roadway due to flooding. There have also been reports of downed trees.At 1 p.m., the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office issued a summary report of the situation so far.”
Sandbags: As the rain continues, the City of Palm Coat has free sandbags and a sand station at the Public Works
yard, located at 1 Wellfield Grade, Palm Coast. Residents who already have their own sandbags can also get sand for their sandbags at stations at Holland Park, Indian Trails Sports Complex and Seminole Woods Park.
The City of Palm Coast’s Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool is closed. Princess Place is closed.
Road Closures Report for Flagler and Palm Coast, from Bunnell Fire Chief Derek Fraser, issued at noon Saturday:
LeighAnn Koch says
I have called the FC Emergency Management number listed above to report water damage for a friend several times but it rings off the hook. Maybe that’s why they’re not getting damage reports?
Wet n Wild says
The lizards out front of my house are doing back strokes down my driveway !
Flooded in PC says
Gee….If this city floods this bad from 7 to 15 in of rain in two days, I don’t want to see what a hurricane will do to this place. I got to get a kayak or canoe to get out of my neighborhood. I need chips & beer for football games. Maybe some kind person can SWIM down here and go shopping for me…:)
Charles Ericksen Jr says
About 3 years or so ago, we had 33 inches in 4 days and survived. The swales hold the water, transfer to a small canal, and then a major canal. But you could be at the wrong place at the wrong time, The E section has had rain, but few downpours,,
PC gardener says
The difference is in the level of the water table, and how fast it can drain away. We had a very wet summer here already, the most rain over a summer that I remember since we moved to Florida in 2003. We were in a drought prior to the event you mention.
Nancy N. says
We’ve lived in this same house through multiple hurricanes and too many tropical storms to count in the last dozen years, and have seen less flooding than this in our immediate area with almost all of them. This weather seems to have parked on top of us and just dumped for days – tropical systems don’t typically stick around that long with that heavy of precipitation.
PC gardener says
Due to heavy rains all summer, the water table was already very high, so more prone to flooding. As the next person down says, in 2008 we had close to 34 inches of rain over at least a week (maybe 2 weeks, but the majority fell in the first 24 hours) as I recall, and not as many problems because the water table was low due to being in a prior drought situation.
zerocool7785 says
I hear you. Beer and chips will get you through this as well as football games.
markingthedays says
That was much more concentrated rain than you see in most hurricanes.
Charles Ericksen Jr says
Yet, at FPC High School. the annual WALK IN HER SHOES , event for The Family Life Center, started at 9:15 AM, with no rain, and then only saw light showers,, Great event, , about 100+ . went on the one mile walk, West to Belle Terre and return. I suspect there are quite a few males, with sore feet after walking a mile in red, high heels!! YES RED HIGH HEELS !!!
barbie says
Wow–we live just off Laramie Drive in the Ls and the only thing flooding is our swales. I think some of it is lower than others and we just must be on a “high” point. Wonder if I can get out of the neighborhood? I was going to head up to the back way of Laramie (to Lakeside), but that looks like it’s where it’s the worst!
Hope everyone is safe and okay! I finally saw some blue sky a little bit ago, maybe most of this is finally over…
Dorothy Griggs says
Has anyone found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow ?
Joe says
Good for you Charlie, but what are all of you commissioners doing about these flooded roads?
Brad says
I think this is the perfect time to ask the City Council candidates their opinion on the situation. I imagine Nobile and Schaeffer will be very critical. Both have been very critical of Utility expenditures. I’m wondering if they still think we do not need to invest in storm water infrastructure?
I for one think the City and County have done a tremendous job with the situation. Thank you to eachcand every one.
Carol Mikola says
I agree, Brad, They have done an excellent job.
Joe says
I’m glad you brought the infrastructure issue up, maybe if we weren’t wasting money on building new city halls and buying old hospitals or draining our local economy with 37 extra, needless red light cameras improvements could be made with those millions.
confidential says
Oh No as per the mayor there are no flood reports yet of homes flooded…I just came back from the utility at Utility drive of course no one there as they do not answer phones either and this young mom was there desperate looking for were she could get sand bags as the water was about to enter her home. As I didn’t know either told her to call 911…as is actually an emergency to get her house flooded. Then I went to our closest fire house and they told me the County Emergency Service (de ja vu) was in charge of advising people about that and they new that one location was across from the Humane Society in City Public Works lot on US1 south bound but North of Palm Coast Parkway. Also in shops along the Parkway this morning the toilettes were bubbling and could not be used…sewer backing up. When I came back home found the robo call city message about refrain from wasting water like in cloth, dish washing etc. as we do not want our sewage to invade the city…? The 13 sewage tank trucks of the city are working 24-7 empting the sewer lift stations as they get rain water intrusion cause they are old and need repairs….I also saw other Daytona companies tank trucks working on the corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre by library corner…The whole west bound sewalls and sidewalks and beyond the P C Parkway North West is flooded so I figure the water utility next to our heroes monument is too? Were are all those sewage tankers being emptied in some canal behind Utility Drive..? Does DEP knows? This is what our utility reserves need to be used, to repair and stop rain intrusion in our and expand it as well, not for CRA’s Town Center and its infrastructure over 20 millions or now to pay for impact fees to the Island LLC former Palm Harbor Shopping Center. But the Mayor says no problem meanwhile we are allover the news with Palm Coast flooded and worst could be flooded with sewer that is even a health hazard too..
Flooded Again says
Our city and county government is wonderful with lip service, but fails to assist residents during an actual crisis. As long as the city management is not experiencing a problem, no problem exists. The city council and mayor definetly have not been out and about during a heavy rainfall to see the damage. Everyone says they see the problem when it rains but nothing is done. The problem is visualized when the city management looks into a mirror.
Seminole Pride says
So am glad I have flood insurance.
CitiZens says
Lizards? I have gators doing back strokes in my front yard. Yes gators out front in the streets. Be cautious.
Jones says
Maybe there should have been some preparation before this storm, the canal on my street has weeds and growth over 3 feet high, the water might flow better if it was cut and maintained more than every 7-8 months. OH, that’s right, we are saving money to build a new city hall, meanwhile, the neighborhood pep tanks are bubbling into the streets!
Flooded Again says
The preparation is to have city workers ride around in city vehicles looking at the problems. Fix the problem… replace the city management.
Groot says
The ditches in this area are overgrown and have debris in them. They have not been cleared in close to a year. I saw a cottonmouth swimming in the street so, that barefooted wading is really dumb.
Mary DiPalma says
My partner and I live in the Woodlands and are facing a disaster in the making.
This morning my basement had 4 feet of water. I waited too long to buy a sump pump.
We had to leave, and am now we’re in a hotel in Sanford. Scary….
We’ll try to have a romantic Sunday at the inn.
Anon says
Basement?
Groot says
I know. Basement? WTF?
Heidi Shipley says
I’m running for city council district 2. I have posted on my Facebook as well as my website that this is an issue that city officials have been addressing for a long time. We could have been floating in our living rooms but our officials have worked on areas of concern right along.
The extra few dollars we pay to have these systems worked on, renovated and updated is worth it. The city plans for these updates years in advance. We still only have one waste water plant, if that fails then who do we blame? The same officials they blast for spending the money.
The system is old and it held up as far as minimal damage. Please visit my website. This is one of those situations where you have to realize, our city is in good hands on most ( not a fan of every decision ) of their decisions.
The right people voted in now can only make it better.
Heidi Shipley
CitiZen says
A lot of homes in Palm coast and even flagler have basements. Imo.
Flooded Again says
Another year with a record rain fall, again the city acknowledges failure of the drainage swales. There seems to plenty of finances to maintain the medians in pristine condition, pave and repave sidewalks, widen roads, and even attempts to build new city offices. I wander if the city management has ever thought about making Palm Coast a livable city, even during excessive rainfalls. Not all homes arre above the crown of the roads. Some of the roads have low spots where even the crown of the road is under 8″ of water when there is an excessive rainfall. Maybe the city should redefine what is excessive rainfall. Another novel idea, fix the drainage system by regrading high spots trapping water and allowing water to flow to the designed retention areas. It seems our city council has a deaf ear when it comes to what the residents would like, and plenty of attention for private wishes. Look at our dog parks, another eye sore for the dog friendly Palm Coast.