DeSantis Orders Emergency Response as Florida Central Floods Persist
Seven counties are under emergency status after heavy rains, with schools in Brevard County closed until Wednesday.
By Yasmin Duda ·
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 26-227 on Sunday to direct state resources to communities facing severe flooding. The order places seven counties, including Brevard, under a state of emergency.
The decision follows days of extreme precipitation in central-east Florida. The National Weather Service in Melbourne reported that 16 to 22 inches of rain had already fallen in parts of Brevard and Indian River counties. A flood warning remained active for those areas until 9:30 p.m. EST on Sunday.
Authorities warned that saturated ground and high water levels could cause rivers and streams to overflow. Low-lying areas with poor drainage were identified as particularly vulnerable. While rain intensity was expected to decrease on Sunday compared to the previous day, isolated showers remained possible across other central Florida counties.
The Brevard County Public School District canceled classes through Monday, Tuesday. Students were scheduled to return to classrooms on Wednesday. The Florida Division of Emergency Management stated it was coordinating with local partners to ensure residents received necessary support for recovery efforts.
The weather service extended the flood watch for Brevard and Volusia counties until 10:00 a.m. on Monday. Forecasters predicted that additional rainfall of one to two inches could occur in the warned zones. Local officials continued to monitor river levels and drainage systems as the storm system moved through the region.
Source: WTMO-CD
