VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Leaders in Volusia County are once again seeking solutions for its ongoing flooding issues after the county council recently rejected a building moratorium.
The council is now considering several proposals, including ending construction on wetlands and finding ways to buy out properties that are frequently flooded. A special meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss these options.
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Residents in the affected areas told News 6 they will be there.
Pam Teator, a resident who purchased her home just outside of DeLand in July, said after Hurricane Milton they tried to take matters into their own hands and built a berm around their home.
“All of our money is tied up into this house. We sold our other house and we’re both retired,” she said.
Teator and her husband were unaware that the area had been prone to flooding since Hurricane Ian in 2022. Just three months after moving in, Hurricane Milton caused significant flooding in their home.
“We had two contractors here when we were trying to get work done because we lost all of the flooring and the sheetrock and they said ‘ma’am, we can’t conscientiously come in here and do any work for you unless you address this flooding problem because it wouldn’t be right,‘” Teator explained, highlighting the reason behind building the berm.
Currently, Teator’s property still has standing water from the rain weeks ago.
With hurricane season approaching, she hopes to receive help from the county soon.
“We have two pumps we’re going to put in on each side of the property because of course any water we get over here, we have to get out,” she said.
The county council’s meeting will address several proposals, including halting construction on wetlands, developing a realistic plan for the county to purchase low-lying homes and land to prevent further flooding, and exploring ways to redirect water from county-owned lands to retention ponds.
“It’s a losing battle for us because it seems like it definitely will happen to us again. Just please help us,” Teator pleaded.
The special meeting is set for Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 4 p.m. in the County Council chambers in DeLand.
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