Rainy Fay Floods Hundreds Of Homes

Emergency Crews Rescue Stranded Residents; Governor Calls Flooding "Catastrophic"

(CBS/ AP)  Emergency crews launched airboats into submerged streets Wednesday to rescue central Florida residents trapped by rising floodwaters from a stalled Tropical Storm Fay, which soaked the state for a third consecutive day.

Calling the flooding "catastrophic," Gov. Charlie Crist requested an emergency disaster declaration from the federal government to defray rising debris and response costs. The White House said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was reviewing the request.

Flooding was reported in hundreds of homes in Brevard and St. Lucie counties, some by up to 5 feet of standing water. In three towns, rising waters backed up sewage systems. It wasn't immediately clear how many residents had been displaced or were stranded, but county officials reported making dozens of rescues.

"We can't even get out of our house," said Billie Dayton of Port St. Lucie, as waters lapped at her porch. "We're just hoping that it doesn't rain anymore."

The storm could dump 30 inches of rain in some areas of Florida and the National Hurricane Center said up to 22 inches had already fallen near Melbourne, just south of Cape Canaveral on the state's central Atlantic coast.

By Wednesday evening, the storm's center had moved over the Atlantic Ocean, and its winds were picking up speed.

Forecasters expected the storm to strengthen slightly before turning back toward the mainland Thursday, when it will probably hit Florida for the third time this week. But National Hurricane Center meteorologist Corey Walton said it was unlikely the storm would gain enough energy over the water to reach hurricane strength.

Current projections have the storm moving slowly to the north-northwest, possibly being downgraded to a tropical depression along the way, reports The Early Show weather anchor Dave Price. The storm is on a path that could take it into southern Georgia and Alabama as the weekend approaches.

The erratic storm first struck Monday in the Florida Keys, then veered out to sea before traversing east across the state, briefly strengthening, then stalling. For much of Wednesday, the storm barely moved, dumping inches and inches of rain over coastal central Florida.

If Fay strikes Florida again as expected, it would be just the fourth storm in recorded history to hit the peninsula with tropical storm intensity three separate times. The most recent was Hurricane Donna in 1960, said Daniel Brown, hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center.

At 11 p.m. Wednesday, the storm was just off Florida's east coast, about 35 miles southeast of Daytona Beach. Its maximum sustained winds were 60 mph, and it was expected to move slowly toward the northwest overnight.

In St. Lucie County an estimated 150 residents have been assisted in evacuating by boat or high-clearance vehicle, and water was 3 to 5 feet in some people's homes, Erick Gill, a county spokesman, said.

The Florida National Guard mobilized about a dozen guardsmen and some high-water vehicles to assist with damage assessment and help with evacuations.

Billy Johnson, 45, and his girlfriend walked four blocks through waist-high water to reach rescue vehicles after his Melbourne apartment was flooded with knee-high water.

"Everything I had is all underwater," he said. "You can't grab your food. You can't grab your TV... Grab what you can and go."

For many, however, it was just a major inconvenience.

Steve Grenon, 40, was sitting in the bed of his truck in front of his house. He said he'd been holed up there for two days, unable to leave with water was up to six feet deep in the street in front of him. A dodge sedan was partly submerged in front of him.

"I had no idea what it looked like out there until today," Grenon said.

Gill said hundreds of homes had been flooded, though a count was incomplete. Homes also were flooded in Brevard County, said Bob Lay, the county's emergency operations director. Floodwaters also had caused sewage to back up, affecting another 40,000 to 50,000 people in three towns.

Fay formed over the weekend in the Atlantic and was blamed for 20 deaths in the Caribbean before hitting Florida's southwest coast, where it first fell short of predictions it could be a Category 1 hurricane when it came ashore.

Though no one in Florida had been killed, some were close. Joe McMannis, 27, said he jumped into floodwaters to help three people in a submerged truck in Jensen Beach. McMannis said the driver accidentally drove into a retention pond, confusing it for a driveway.

"It pretty much came up to my ears and chin," he said. "I saw this little kid coming toward me so I grabbed him and swam him back to the shore line and went back for the other two guys."

The rain was welcome in dry Florida and Georgia cropland, but could also hurt farmers' production. Forecasters predicted parts of northern Florida could get 10 to 15 inches of rain, while southern Georgia could receive 3 to 6 inches.

"They're probably areas of the state that found the rains very beneficial," said Terence McElroy, spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

But McElroy said the rain could pool around and damage citrus trees and flood pastures and hay fields. He couldn't yet quantify damage.

Before moving east, the storm flooded streets in Naples, downed trees and cut power to some 95,000 homes and businesses. Tornadoes spawned by the storm damaged 51 homes in Brevard County, southeast of Orlando, including nine homes that were totaled. In the Keys, officials estimated 25,000 tourists evacuated.

In Florida communities north of the flooding and in southeast Georgia, storm preparations included canceling school, clearing storm drains and ditches and encouraging mobile home residents to find sturdier shelter.

[deacon20081]

"The White House said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was reviewing the request." This news brought tears to the eyes of the govenor, " Oh crudd now we are so on our own!"

Oh They are going to do a Great Job! Just as soon as they do something in New Orleans right Cherty?

[pfanerk]

Now the federal government is going to have to bail out people who build houses and live where hurricanes hit. That does not make sense. Why don''t they move to nice, neat Midwest communities where everyone cares for and takes care of their neighbors and where there are few African-Americans? If only people could live in the land of lollipops. That''s what we need: Lollipop Land. Where right-wing Christians know best how we should all live our lives. Nough said.

[lovesamerica]

I hope they and neighboring drought states get a lot of much needed rain,it''s not fun now, but when the lakes,rivers and swamps fill up you will be grateful. Enjoy the humidity after!!!!

[mbcsmith]

florida should be used to this by now, big deal. they should know by now how to deal with hurricanes.


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Posted by indianking00 at 11:47 AM : Aug 20, 2008



They do!

[seafang]

Well this is a big let down for the AGW catastrophists. I know y''alls were hoping for a maxi Katrina like devastation; to feed your global warming religious fanaticism; but looks like this one is a bust.
I''ve had more impressive storms while taking my morning shower.
Time to face reality Al Gore; your chariot has about run its course.

[observer2020]

Posted by gop_forever at 08:48 AM: So far the hurricane has only affected sinners.

You should hurry up and move to Florida.
Posted by MyOpinion381

Agreed! gop needs to get a grip!

[myopinion381]

Posted by gop_forever at 08:48 AM: So far the hurricane has only affected sinners.

You should hurry up and move to Florida.

[indianking00]

florida should be used to this by now, big deal. they should know by now how to deal with hurricanes.

[pollroller1]

gop-forever I have to admit those Checkers are pretty cool. LOL

[andylance1]

Unlike our neighboring states that suffer from drought, long term residents of Florida welcome tropical storms. The longer they stay the better. They recharge and refill our aquifers, rivers and lakes, blow the pollution away and lower the summer heat to a more comfortable level. Tropical storms are a gift from God.

[pollroller1]

Gods in my call circle. We exchange recipes quite often.

Posted by gop_forever at 09:59 AM : Aug 20, 2008
When I prayed to him this mourning he told me to ask you to quit driving that checker. He said that you were polluting his planet.

[donevis-2009]

Parents in Titusville; Just a Rain storm with a bit of wind.

[rytom64]

I''m in Miami, this thing was no big deal. A lot of rain, then windy yesterday. It''s nothing but a rainstorm.

[pollroller1]

Hey gop forever. Why don''t you just send me your money and I will pray for you. I have a direct line to the almighty.

[nolalou]

I spoke to 2 family members in Florida, one near Ft Myers, and one further north near Orlando, both said the media is blowing this all out of proportion. There may be some isolated areas with street flooding, but neither of them has noticed any major impact, and stores are still open. In fact, even the Disney theme parks have not closed due to this storm.

[rytom64]

I guess we are in fairy tale land again today.

[casey0157]

My prayers are with those effected by Fay! Peace Be With You All!

[skyhawk761]

Well some of us still believe in God Almighty and arent going to wind up in h e double toothpicks.


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Posted by gop_forever at 09:04 AM : Aug 20, 2008
+ report abuse

gop_forever, me does think that you have a reservation right beside Jerry Fallwell in the oven!

[elkera]

Why is Fay, a tropical storm, getting more press than Hurrican Dolly did? The Rio Grande Valley, TX received close to 15" of rain, winds up to 100 mph, & sustained rain for almost 13 hours. Major flooding and people still in standing water after 3 weeks & we get no press. Thunderstorms dropped 15" of rain yesterday in the Valley without a tropical storm & we get no press. People out of homes, health warnings going out, water everywhere. Is Texas not important to your newscasts?

[zykracosmos]

So far the hurricane has only affected sinners. Keep praying.


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Posted by gop_forever at 08:48 AM : Aug 20, 2008
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Man has yet to evolve beyond his instincts to bow down to supernatural entities to quell his fears of the natural world.