EUSTIS, Fla. – The city of Eustis on Thursday authorized giving money to the Spring Ridge Estates community to repair a partially collapsed culvert, a week after 20 homes were evacuated because of a bridge washout.
City leaders voted to fund the project, which sits on private property, saying more damage could occur and impact nearby city-owned utility lines.
“Our goal now is to shore up our utilities and get those people back in their homes before Thanksgiving,” Eustis Fire Chief Michael Swanson said in a Friday news conference.
[VIDEO BELOW: Homes evacuated after bridge collapse]
The city of Eustis received over 19 inches of rain in a few hours a couple of weeks ago, and the bridge to Spring Ridge Estates partially collapsed days later.
Swanson highlighted the severity of the flooding event by noting that the emergency alert instructing residents to shelter in place was only the second time in Florida’s history that such a warning had been activated.
“That’s how unique and impactful this event was,” he said,
Swanson explained that the culvert system failure was discovered on Oct. 30, and the city quickly mobilized to prevent further damage.
“We actually identified a couple of other soft spots in the area. The water is still moving. So this, this declaration of emergency will probably continue until next week,” Swanson said.
Swanson noted the ongoing risk due to moving water. The HOA initially installed a temporary berm to reduce pressure on the culvert, which helped slow damage but ultimately failed last week.
Cost estimates for the repair range between $500,000 and $700,000, with final figures pending further assessment. The city and the HOA are negotiating reimbursement terms, with both parties committed to sharing costs. Insurance claims and potential state and federal aid are also being explored