FloodingFriday, November 6
DeSantis added Palm Beach County to Florida's flooding state of emergency
The 5AM West Palm Beach team
If you live in Palm Beach County, your county is now covered. Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded Florida's flooding declaration Wednesday to add Glades, Hendry, Lake, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Seminole, and Volusia counties. The original order, Executive Order 26-227, covered Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands.
The declaration gives state and local officials more authority and resources. It lets the state activate the Florida National Guard, close roads, and waive tolls if needed. Meanwhile, 1290 WJNO reports that six Palm Beach County schools stayed closed Thursday.
The flood emergency now covers 14 Florida counties
- 14
- counties under the state of emergency
- 7
- counties added Wednesday, including Palm Beach
- Over 22 inches
- of rain in parts of West Palm Beach, Commissioner Gregg Weiss said
Sources: NewsRadio WIOD, WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm, WPTV
- Closed Thursday: six schools, including Jeaga Middle and West Boca High
- St. Lucie County schools: closed Thursday, expected to reopen Friday
- County Emergency Operations Center: Level 2, a partial activation
County commissioners say the rain was extreme. Weiss said it's the kind of event some call a "one-in-1,000-type" storm, and Commissioner Maria Sachs said new homes and businesses need drainage planning.
“This rain, my gosh, it never ends.”
The flood emergency order grew from seven counties to 14 by Wednesday
- Nov. 2DeSantis declares emergency for seven counties, including Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie.
- Nov. 4DeSantis adds seven counties, including Palm Beach, to the order.
- Nov. 5Six Palm Beach County schools and all St. Lucie County schools stay closed.
Sources: WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm, 1290 WJNO
Sources: NewsRadio WIOD, WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm, 1290 WJNO, WPTV