Residents of Florida’s Space Coast began cleaning up Tuesday after a deluge that the National Weather Service described as a “one in a 1,000-year event” dumped up to 22 inches of rain on southern Brevard County, triggered more than 100 rescues and forced election officials to move several polling places on Election Day.

Grant-Valkaria, which forecasters called “ground zero” for the storm, received about 20 inches of rain in 24 hours, Florida Today reported. Palm Bay recorded 18 to 22 inches. Melbourne’s official gauge measured 11.04 inches, breaking the daily, monthly and all-time 24-hour rainfall records for the city, said Robert Haley, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Melbourne.

Brevard Public Schools remained closed Tuesday for a second day, and Eastern Florida State College also closed. Officials warned that water could take days to recede and that more downpours Tuesday could make conditions worse.

 

Key Takeaways
A historic rain:
Up to 22 inches fell on southern Brevard County on Monday, and Melbourne set an all-time 24-hour rainfall record of 11.04 inches. The weather service called it a “one in a 1,000-year event.”
More than 100 rescues:
Sheriff’s deputies helped more than 100 people, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers rescued 60. Officials urged residents who could stay put to do so.
Voting and water disrupted:
Several south Brevard precincts moved polling places for Election Day. Melbourne issued a precautionary boil water notice, and county officials asked residents to conserve water to ease strain on the wastewater system.

How the Flood Unfolded
A slow-moving front stalled to the south while easterly winds pumped deep Atlantic moisture onshore, setting up hours of heavy rain over the same neighborhoods, according to Florida Today.

The weather service issued a flash flood emergency, its most urgent flood alert, for Palm Bay, Melbourne and West Melbourne at 7:56 a.m. EST Monday, Nov. 2, when 8 to 12 inches had already fallen.

Forecasters lowered the alert to a flash flood warning at 1:38 p.m., when totals had reached 15 to 20 inches. By 3:36 p.m., the weather service said 16 to 22 inches had fallen.

“It’s a one in a 1,000-year event,” the weather service said, according to Florida Today. For context, Tropical Storm Fay dropped 27.65 inches in 2008, the newspaper reported. John Scott, director of the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center, said southern parts of the county received 15 to 20 inches.

Rescues by Airboat, Helicopter

Rescue crews worked through the day Monday as water filled streets, yards and homes. Don Walker, a spokesman for Brevard County Emergency Management, said sheriff’s deputies helped more than 100 people. Airboats pulled seven people from the Wingate subdivision in West Melbourne. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers rescued 60 people in Brevard, Florida Today reported.

FOX 35 Orlando reported that FWC crews carried out more than 60 rescue operations, and that a helicopter crew rescued a man who was clinging to a tree in Crane Creek. Three Florida Institute of Technology students were rescued from a retention pond, according to Florida Today.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey urged people not to leave home unless they had to.

“If you can stay put, stay put,” Ivey said. “We will get to you. … I don’t care if we have to swim to you or kayak to you.”

Lt. Vincent Galioto of the Palm Bay Police Department described flooding across the city. “We’re seeing streets underwater everywhere,” he said.

Palm Bay Fire Rescue Assistant Chief John Ringleb said crews had been busy since before dawn. “We’ve had high water rescues since 5 a.m.,” he said. Ringleb warned that water that appears to be going down can still be dangerous.

Palm Bay’s own fire headquarters flooded, Florida Today reported. On Fallon Boulevard in Palm Bay, a driveway and part of the road collapsed.

Catherine McDonald, a resident, told Florida Today: “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Melbourne police Cmdr. Shawn Eising said it could take “days” for the water to recede.

Polling Places Relocated

The flooding hit on the eve of Election Day, forcing the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections office to relocate several precinct polling places.

“For the safety and security of our election workers and the voters of Brevard, it is necessary to relocate a couple of precinct polling locations due to these unprecedented circumstances,” Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic said, according to WKMG-TV News 6.

Voters in precincts 307, 512 and 525, normally at Max K. Rodes Park, and in Precinct 309, normally at the Veterans Memorial Complex, were sent to the New Shiloh Christian Center in Melbourne. Precincts 306 and 323/509 were moved to the Joseph N. Davis Community Center. Precinct 517 was moved to the Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers, according to WKMG and 321 Daily.

Water and Sewer Systems Strained

The flood also stressed water and wastewater systems.

In Palm Bay, a water main broke on Port Malabar Boulevard Northeast, forcing the city to shut off service to the area, with a boil water notice to follow, Florida Today reported. Melbourne issued a precautionary boil water notice for all of its customers, 321 Daily reported, citing Spectrum News 13.

The Brevard County Emergency Operations Center asked residents to limit water use because heavy rain and normal household use were putting serious stress on the wastewater system. The county urged people to keep showers short, stick to regular laundry routines and run dishwashers only when full.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Parker Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, 4101 Melvin Chatman Way, in Cocoa.

Businesses, Space Industry Affected

The storm rippled across the Space Coast’s economy. Kennedy Space Center and L3Harris employees worked from home Monday, Florida Today reported. Brightline suspended some train service.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management said Monday that it was deploying flood pumps and thousands of feet of hose from its central Florida warehouse to help affected communities. Later Monday, the agency said it was surging pumps, flood control equipment, high-water vehicles, specialized response teams, air assets, generators and fuel support to flood-stricken areas.

The county asked residents whose homes were damaged or flooded to fill out an online damage assessment form to help officials gauge community impacts and guide recovery. Officials said the form is not an application for assistance.

Rivers Still Rising, More Rain Possible

While neighborhood flooding began easing in places Tuesday, officials warned the danger was not over.
The weather service’s Melbourne office said Tuesday that “scattered to numerous showers, some with heavy downpours will exacerbate ongoing flooding.” A flood watch for the coast and Okeechobee County ran through 10 a.m. EST Tuesday, and a flood warning for southeastern Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties was in effect until 9:30 a.m. EST.

The St. Johns River near Cocoa was in minor flood stage and was forecast to reach moderate flood stage by mid to late week as runoff drains into the river, according to the weather service.

Brevard County Emergency Management reminded commuters Tuesday morning never to drive through a flooded roadway and to find another route.

Ringleb, of Palm Bay Fire Rescue, said receding water can still hide hazards. The Florida Division of Emergency Management warned that floodwaters can conceal dangerous wildlife, harmful bacteria and electrical hazards from downed power lines.

Officials said cleanup would take time, and residents along the St. Johns River should watch for rising water later this week.