VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County leaders held a town hall Thursday to discuss flooding concerns once again, after Hurricane Milton left areas across the county underwater.

Despite two months of discussions on how to address flooding within the county, some residents said the lack of progress made during Thursday’s meeting discouraged them.

Some said they were hoping to hear more about immediate short-term solutions, but that there was little to no clarity regarding those concerns. 

What You Need To Know

  • Dozens of Volusia County residents attended a town hall on flooding on Thursday, Dec. 5, to voice their concerns

  • While the county addressed long-term efforts to curb flooding, some residents said they wanted to hear more about short-term solutions

  • Many felt there was a lack of progress from county officials to address their frustrations nearly two months after Hurricane Milton

  • The next county council meeting on flooding is on Jan. 14

During the meeting, council members attempted to answer two of the most pressing questions they say residents had: One, why flooding of this nature happened in Volusia County? And two, what the county is going to do to fix the problem?

“There’s not a drainage system in Volusia County in the ground today designed for a storm event greater than 11 inches,” Public Works Director for the county Benjamin Bartlett said. 

While some residents felt council members didn’t address their immediate concerns, the county discussed some of its long-term plans to help residents in the future. 

Among those solutions include:

  • Providing a needed update to the Stormwater Master Plan in areas that are most prone to flooding
  • An engineering study to determine feasible and cost-effective solutions
  • Acquisition programs for flood-prone properties

Even though it has been nearly two months since Milton hit, neighbors are still showing up by the numbers to voice their frustrations.

Suzanne Scheiber, founder of the Dream Green Volusia organization, attended the meeting to advocate on behalf of Edgewater residents, even though she lives in Ormond Beach.

“I would actually like to have heard of specific projects to be accomplished. Something that they were doing to divert the storm water to be able to find locations for the storm water. Where they’re going to put it? What they’re going to do to help the people that are in DeLand?” she expressed. 

Volusia County Char Jeff Brower said he shares the frustration of residents who want to see some lasting change. 

He is the only council member who supports a building moratorium in Volusia County.

“That’s why I’ve called for a moratorium. Nobody wants a moratorium, but until we stop long enough to say, ‘OK, this is where the waters coming from. This is where we can put it.’ That’s the thing nobody knows,” Brewer explained. 

The next county council meeting to discuss flooding will take place on Jan. 14, and discussions will include a proposed moratorium and stormwater issues.