HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Withlacoochee River is cresting, and it’s posing a massive threat to those living along the river.
The flooding is causing evacuation orders to be issued, and dozens of roads are closed as a result, including US-301.
Parts of Withlacoochee River closed to boaters until further notice 8 On Your Side has been going back to the neighborhoods along the river all week, and people are continuing to pack up and evacuate. Some people are coming back to check on the homes they left.
When you look around the neighborhoods along the Withlacoochee River, there are many things out of place; people’s clothing, mailboxes submerged, and even children’s toys are in the water.
“She used to play outside on the back of my trailer, with her little kitchen, but now it’s floating,” said Sandra Perez about her daughter’s toy.
The thing that is missing is the streets people are used to driving on. Now, many main roads and streets are closed, with detours in place.
Sandra Perez said she and her family just moved into their home a little over two months ago. On Monday, they had to pack up what they could to get to safety.
Dade City police urge residents to leave amid flood warning “We were putting pallets of wood to cross, so we could get our things out,” Perez said.
She said she needed to return home to get more clothing for her four children.
“The thing that I need is to get in because the cold weather just came. When we left, it wasn’t that cold, so now my kids are going to school in the mornings and they have all their jackets in there,” she said.
The National Water Prediction Service has put the height of the water at over 19.5 feet along US-301 and Trilby.
Perez is hoping the water will go down soon, so her children can run and play in their home again.
FEMA offers Transitional Sheltering Assistance for residents impacted by Hurricanes Milton, Helene “It’s devastating for all of us,” she said.
Down the street in the River Dale Community, many others are also hoping the water leaves sooner rather than later.
“I’ve been here 35 years, it’s never encroached my property before, at all. I’m not required to have flood insurance, because I am not in the flood plain. So, it’s very unnerving,” said Jennifer Kern.
Officials are encouraging everyone to evacuate and get to safety, especially if they are seeing water inch closer to their homes. If you need any help getting out of your home, call 911.
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