EDGEWATER, Fla. — As officials monitor the tropics for the development of potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, cities across Volusia County are ramping up preparations.

What You Need To Know

  • With the potential Tropical Cyclone Nine forming in the Atlantic, the city of Edgewater has started preparations amid flooding concerns

  • In recent days, Edgewater has faced chronic flooding issues. Last Friday, the Edgewater City Council voted to terminate City Manager Glenn Irby, citing insufficient action on these flooding problems

  • Edgewater City Mayor Diezel Depew said after Hurricane Ian the city started the process of updating its stormwater master plan. He added that Public Works crews will be working to clean ditches and culverts in residential areas ahead of the storm

  • The city announced on Facebook plans for sandbag distribution. Residents can collect up to ten (10) bags per household, with proof of residency, at the Hibiscus Drive and 26th Street site on Wednesday (Sept. 25, 2024) and Thursday (Sept. 26, 2024) from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.

In recent days, Edgewater has faced chronic flooding issues. Last Friday, the Edgewater City Council voted to terminate City Manager Glenn Irby, citing insufficient action on these flooding problems.

“Every time it rains, it fills up, and it just doesn’t go anywhere,” Edgewater resident Joshua Szymczak said while looking at the culvert in front of his home.

He is one among dozens of residents in the City of Edgewater dealing with chronic flooding.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, the city got seven inches of rain, flooding roads, driveways and leaving many residents stuck in their homes.

“What can you do? I just get all the beach towels and shoved them against the doorways and sat and waited it out. But this is 10, 11 days now. This has been full. It doesn’t seep into the ground. It doesn’t flow anywhere,” Szymczak said.

The city said to get ready for the potential storm forming, they will open a sandbag distribution site on Wednesday. But Szymczak said that won’t address the problem - instead he would like the city to clean the culverts that are full of standing water.  

“I don’t want sandbags. Dig this out, make it flow. Have some running water here so it goes away,” he said.

Edgewater City Mayor Diezel Depew said after Hurricane Ian, the city started the process of updating its stormwater master plan.

“Our last city manager didn’t give the council an update on that. So, we need to fast track that. We are doing a flood vulnerability assessment which then, when completed, will allow us to go after federal funding,” Depew said.

He added that Public Works crews will be working to clean ditches and culverts in residential areas ahead of the storm. In the meantime, Depew reassured residents the council is united in addressing flooding issues as their top priority.

“We're coming up with a plan. We hear you. Please bear with us, you know, nothing in government works fast, but we need to come up with a plan fast a short-term plan and a long-term plan fast to get this accomplished, to get our city to where our residents do not have to worry if a simple rainstorm comes through if they're going to flood or not,” Depew said.

The city announced on Facebook plans for sandbag distribution. Residents can collect up to ten (10) bags per household, with proof of residency, at the Hibiscus Drive and 26th Street site on Wednesday (Sept. 25, 2024) and Thursday (Sept. 26, 2024) from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.