Withlacoochee River levels continue to rise, residents being evacuated

RIDGE MANOR, Fla., (WFLA) – The water levels from the Withlacoochee River continue to rise in Hernando County, which is putting residents and their homes in jeopardy.

Rescue crews have been working around the clock to evacuate people.

The flooding has forced the closure of US 301 between State Road 50 and State Road 575. This is located on the border between Pasco and Hernando Counties, a detour is now in effect.

Joann Briscoe’s home is now surrounded by water.

“Hopefully, I have everything high enough in there that it won’t get some of the other stuff wet, but if it does, everything is replaceable,” she said.

Looking around the neighborhoods in River Dale Community, the tops of fences stick out and homes are half submerged in river water.

“Little overwhelmed, we will get through it. We went through a house fire a few years ago and that was a little easier, because it went up and this here, you just see everything floating,” Briscoe said.

It’s all hands-on deck with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Fire and Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, and FWC evacuating the flooded neighborhoods.

“It’s getting to the point where it’s a little dangerous, so most of the people have evacuated,” Deputy Steve Snell said. “There are still some people trying to stay back. We’re encouraging them to go ahead and leave.”

Crews are handing out food and water, checking on people and getting them, and their pets, to safety.

“This is much different than a hurricane,” Sheriff Al Nienhuis said. “You know the storm surge in a hurricane is a few hours. This is several days, up to maybe some low-lying houses may have water in them for a week, two weeks even.”

Deputies are continuing to check on people’s homes throughout the week.

“Some that we checked on yesterday, we’re going to check again today, because it still has risen overnight,” Snell said.

Briscoe said she feels better seeing all the agencies in her area.

“During the night, we can see people going up with spotlights and stuff like that, so it makes us feel safer,” she said.

The water is miles and miles of river water that is overflowing.

“It’s kind of like somebody filling a pool with a fire hose, and you trying to drain it with a straw,” Nienhuis said. “The water just has no place to go. Eventually, it’s going to recede, but right now, obviously, it’s coming into this area much faster than it can leave.”

Everyone 8 On Your Side spoke with said they hope it recedes soon.

“It hasn’t been like this for a while,” said April Coffelt, who lives in the area. “These last two storms, it’s catastrophic everywhere around here. Withlacoochee is rising, you know, and I don’t know when it’s going to stop, hopefully sometime this week.”

If you need to be evacuated, the Sheriff’s Office said to call 911. For anyone being rescued, there is a shelter open at the Brooksville Enrichment Center, located at 800 John Gary Grabbs Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601. The number is (352) 544-5900.

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