Floodwaters are receding in Indian River County after this week’s severe downpours, with standing water still affecting some areas as crews work to drain roads and officials assess damage. County leaders said assessment teams were surveying damage Friday. Schools in Indian River County were closed Friday but are expected to reopen Monday.
Law enforcement officials said flooding reduced County Roads 510 and 512 to one lane at one point. Crews installed an emergency pipe under the roadway Thursday night to help drain the area. Officials are reminding residents to avoid flooded roads as cleanup continues.
Dave Kubacki, a resident of Sebastian, shared cellphone video of flooding outside his home and described how quickly the water receded. "Holy smoke, I can't believe how much water was out there, and I can't believe how fast it disappeared," Kubacki said. He said the only time flooding had been this bad was during a hurricane. "The hurricanes were bad, but I've never seen rain come down like this for such a long period of time and so heavy," he said.
Officials shared video of flooded roads taken just after the downpours, along with body camera footage showing deputies responding to incidents caused by high water. Deputies were called to a residential driveway to secure an alligator pushed out of its usual habitat by the flooding. The alligator was safely relocated to another area within the county.