Rising waters drive residents from homes

Seminole officials expect lake, river levels will swell

Rising waters caused by Hurricane Irma continue to cause headaches in Central Florida, including driving residents from their homes along the southern shore of Lake Harney in east Seminole County.

“Well, that’s the choice I made to live out here,” Robert McKamey said Wednesday as he tried driving his truck along flooded Whitcomb Drive to reach his home. But the long and narrow driveway had more than three feet of water, making it impossible for him to drive in and assess the damage.

“I’m from Tennessee, and I had enough sense to leave,” said McKamey, who left the area Saturday, a day before the storm arrived. “But it may be several days before I can get in there. Life goes on.”

Seminole emergency management officials said they expect the waters from Irma’s heavy rains — which reached up to 20 inches in some areas — will continue to cause lake and river levels to swell over the next two weeks, causing increased concerns about flooding.

Similar flooding woes surfaced around the region in Irma’s aftermath.

In Apopka, an overflowing retention pond threatened to flood nearly 100 homes at the Oaks at Wekiwa neighborhood.

“It’s slightly better today,” Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer said Wednesday. “Water is still flowing. … But at a slower pace. I hope it has peaked.”

Segments of the Lake Apopka North Shore Loop Trail were still flooded, said Danielle Spears, spokeswoman for the St. Johns River Water Management District.

The walking trails that act as water levies were breached and closed along with the scenic Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, she said.

In Osceola County, Irma dumped up to 9 inches on the Shingle Creek Basin — which sits between Lake Tohopekaliga and the Orange-Osceola line — and water overflowed into the Good Samaritan Village retirement community south of Kissimmee.

More than 500 residents of the retirement community were evacuated to nearby shelters, including 34 with special medical needs, after water levels reached 5 to 6 feet in the community. On Wednesday, officials said the rising waters have started to slow. But they said it’s still unclear when they will subside.

In Altamonte Springs, City Manager Frank Martz said flooding from the Little Wekiva River had receded about six inches. However, 61 residents who were forced to evacuate from their homes in the Spring Oaks subdivision and taken to shelters still could not return.

In Seminole County, the areas along the St. Johns River — including around Lake Harney and Lake Monroe — face the greatest risks of flooding. The large river collects rainwater from as far south as Indian River County and flows northward, typically overflowing choke points at Lake Harney and Lake Monroe, for several days after a heavy rain storm.

“Wherever there’s a choke point, that’s where we get flooding,” said Alan Harris, Seminole’s emergency manager. “We have not reached the end. Roads will be under water and homes will take on water.”

Harris said it could be up to two weeks before the rising water levels start to slow.

Seminole Sheriff’s Office officials said they have dispatched heavy military vehicles and other equipment to the remote area in case they need to rescue residents trapped in their homes because of flooding.

Helicopters “are flying over the area routinely to keep an eye on the area,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Kim Cannaday said.

Flooding is heavy on Sonya Sloan’s mind, even though the 46-year-old woman has lived her entire life in east Seminole. Her home sits along the southern shore of Lake Harney on Whitcomb Drive. And the street in front of her home was dry on Wednesday.

“Yes, we’re concerned,” Sloan said as she cleared brush from the front of her property. “Hopefully, it’s not going to rise too much.”

However, Lorita Atwell, who is staying at her son’s home, said she’s not concerned, as she drove her pickup through the ankle deep waters covering Whitcomb Drive.

“We’re used to this,” Atwell said. “It will just make it harder to drive.”

“It’s slightly better today. Water is still flowing. … But at a slower pace. I hope it has peaked.” Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer