Milton’s aftermath: Floodwaters rise along St. Johns River in Central Florida
Power outages dip below 5,000, but flooding threat is growing
As Central Floridians stagger to their feet from Hurricane Milton — picking up debris and watching their lights come back on — emergency officials are preparing for another potential disaster: rising flood waters along the St. Johns River.
Crews in Seminole County closed several flooded roads this weekend, including along the western shore of Lake Harney near the Geneva community, around Mullet Lake Park, and on the southern side of Lake Jesup, after several homes took on water from the north-flowing St. Johns. The water reached knee deep in many of those areas.
Teams from the Florida National Guard and the Seminole County Fire Department have evacuated 15 people since last Thursday from flooded homes in Geneva and the Spring Oaks neighborhood, which rests in a crook of the Little Wekiva River in Altamonte Springs.
Residents in and near those areas are being urged to take precautions and consider evacuating if the St. Johns continues to threaten. Water levels are due to crest Thursday or Friday.
After a heavy rain event like Milton, which dropped 10-12 inches or more across much of Central Florida, some places in the region flood almost immediately. What happens near the St. Johns is different.