Flood rescues continued across Brevard County, Florida, on Monday after torrential rain turned roads into waterways, flooded homes and forced residents to leave properties in Palm Bay, Melbourne and surrounding communities.
Emergency crews, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and volunteers used airboats, shallow-water boats and helicopters to reach people trapped by rapidly rising water. Those rescued included elderly residents, families with children and people with medical needs.
In one operation, a man recovering from open-heart surgery was reached by neighbour and trained rescue diver Rick Dent, who waded through chest-deep water to get to him. Responders also rescued babies through windows and pulled a man from Crane Creek after finding him clinging to a palm tree.
Flooding was particularly severe along Fallon Boulevard in Palm Bay, where a driveway collapsed before part of the road gave way. The damage left water flowing through the street and stranded several residents.
West Melbourne residents reported homes surrounded by water, damaged belongings and abandoned vehicles as roads became impassable. Some said floodwater had reached about 5ft in their back gardens and described the conditions as worse than flooding experienced during previous hurricanes.
Flooding forces changes to Brevard County polling places
The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Parker Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Cocoa for people displaced by the flooding.
Brevard Public Schools also announced closures, while officials urged residents to remain indoors wherever possible and warned drivers not to attempt to cross flooded roads or intersections.
The extreme weather prompted the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections to move several polling places ahead of Tuesday’s general election on November 3.
Voters assigned to precincts 307, 309, 512 and 525 were redirected to New Shiloh Christian Center on Sarno Road in Melbourne. Precincts 306, 323 and 509 were moved to the Joseph N. Davis Community Center on Bruce D. Buggs Street.
Voters in precinct 517 were told to cast their ballots in the council chambers at Palm Bay City Hall on Malabar Road. Polls were due to remain open from 7am to 7pm, although officials warned that further changes could be announced.
Tim Bobanic, Brevard County’s supervisor of elections, said the relocations were necessary to protect voters and election workers in what he described as unprecedented conditions.
County emergency officials continued to advise people to stay off the roads. They warned that floodwater could conceal debris, chemicals, bacteria and fallen power lines, and urged anyone encountering an inundated roadway to turn around and find another route.
