DELAND, Fla. — Following Hurricane Milton, residents in Volusia County have been dealing with ongoing flooding issues in several cities.

Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower, who is up for reelection, called for a press conference Tuesday afternoon where he announced his plans of proposing a development moratorium countywide to help address the flooding problems.

What You Need To Know

  • Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower, who’s up for reelection, called for a press conference Tuesday afternoon where he announced his plans of proposing a development moratorium countywide to help address the flooding problems

  • A group of residents who have experienced flooding during recent hurricanes came together this afternoon to demand action

  • Councilman Danny Robins argued that a countywide development moratorium is not possible according to the county charter rules

  • The next council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19

Council members Jake Johansson and Danny Robins were also present at the event.

Councilman Robins argued that a countywide development moratorium is not possible according to the county charter rules. 

“Our jurisdiction stops for moratoriums, which include permits which include zoning, which include projects. They stop and start in unincorporated Volusia. Only if you wanna do something within the city, that’s why you have a city government,” he said.

While there is disagreement over how to curb development and fix flooding, residents like John and Pat Joslin, the owners of Common Ground Farm, said something needs to be done soon to help homeowners.

“We’ve been out there for almost 20 years now and we have noticed in the last six years progressively worsening flooding. Why now? Because it’s getting worse, it’s not getting better,” John said.

Resident Claudia Adkins from the city of Edgewater showed up with pictures and maps showing the flooding issues they have seen.

“My husband and I had to pick up our one and a half year-old son off of the floor to make sure that he didn’t drown from flooding in our home on a random Saturday.” said Adkins. “We had to miss days of work and spend $600 out of our own pockets to buy our own pumps because the neighborhood behind us was pumping their drain water into our home and into our street and we just can’t live like this. Our house is on the market, and we were told that no one is going to buy our home in the city of Edgewater ever.”

Jeff Brower’s opponent in the race for county chair Randy Dye was also present at the event to share his stance on management of development in the county.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19.