Seminole County emergency managers now expect flooding along the St. Johns River to drag on for weeks, with the river possibly not cresting in the Sanford and Lake Harney areas until sometime between Nov. 20 and Nov. 23.
"We're anticipating reaching just between moderate and major flood stage on our rivers as far as cresting in the Sanford area and Lake Harney area as far out as the 20th of November all the way through the 23rd," Steven Lerner, who manages the county's Emergency Management division, told WKMG on Monday. He described it as "a very prolonged slow flooding event."
Lerner told the station that levels may not begin dropping until well into December, and that additional rain could raise them further.
The high water is runoff from last week's severe storm in Brevard County, which is moving downstream through the north-flowing river and its tributaries. County officials said Lake Monroe could crest above 6 feet and Lake Harney above 10 feet over the coming weeks, WKMG reported.
What the gauges showed Monday
Flood warnings from the National Weather Service office in Melbourne remained in effect Monday for both Seminole County gauges on the river.
- Above Lake Harney, near Geneva: The gauge read 9.12 feet late Monday afternoon, inside moderate flood stage, which begins at 9 feet. Major flooding starts at 10 feet. The weather service expects the river to hold steady within moderate stage this week and said it could approach major flood stage next weekend. Its warning says that at 9.3 feet, many secondary roads near Lake Harney go under water.
- Near Sanford: The gauge read 5.37 feet, still just below its 5.5-foot flood stage. The expected crossing has slipped again: Monday's warning now calls for the river to reach flood stage early Thursday, with further rises possible after that. Over the weekend, the forecast had pointed to Sunday evening. At 5.5 feet, the weather service says water surrounds homes in the Stone Island area near Enterprise in Volusia County and floods docks in the River Oaks Estates subdivision.
The weather service's published river forecasts currently run only through Saturday, Nov. 14, so they do not yet reach the crest window county officials described.
Sandbag site changes
Seminole County's sandbag page, last updated at 3 p.m. Monday, lists these self-serve locations:
- Boombah Seminole County Sports overflow lot, 3325 Cameron Ave., Sanford, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Wayside Park, 4150 US-17, Sanford, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., opening Tuesday, Nov. 10.
- Old Geneva Volunteer Fire Station, 217 2nd St., Geneva, listed as closing Monday, Nov. 9.
WKMG reported that residents can fill up to 15 bags per household. The county asks people to bring their own shovel and gloves and notes that a filled bag weighs roughly 30 pounds. WKMG's report listed the Geneva station among Tuesday's sites, which differs from the county's page, so residents may want to check the county listing before heading out.
