Astor, FL - Senator Rick Scott, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, and Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell led a team to assess the damage in Volusia County following Hurricane Milton.
The team conducted aerial surveys using sheriff helicopters and later inspected the affected areas by boat.
The widespread flooding has left homes, businesses, and infrastructure along miles of the river at risk of even higher water levels.
During a press conference, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said “What we saw is this is historic. I think the flooding is higher than it was during Ian. And now here we are three days out and people think, well, the hurricane’s gone, but no, the effects are still there. The folk, the folks that live inland by the river are going to start to see more and more flooding. And that’s what our concern is.”
Officials are closely monitoring the river's water levels, which could peak in the next few days before slowly receding.
However, full recovery may take over a month, depending on future rainfall.
In addition to the ongoing flooding, financial relief for affected residents remains a priority.
“I spoke with the president about two days ago,” said Sen. Rick Scott. “I talked to the administrator of FEMA and said, get us a number so we’ll figure out how to get the funding on top of that. SBA, their loan program is not funded right now. So, also FEMA, the biggest thing they do besides coordinating things, they have individual assistance.”
As the St. Johns River continues to rise, officials are working to ensure that both immediate aid and long-term support reach these hard-hit communities.