EDGEWATER, Fla. – As part of an ongoing effort to assist residents following severe flooding, Edgewater Mayor Diezel Depew emphasized the importance of setting up a new sandbag distribution location. These efforts come ahead of Friday’s special meeting.
“We have residents who flood terribly, as we saw during Hurricane Ian and just last Saturday,” Depew said.
The sandbag location, set up for the Florida Shores neighborhood, will be open Friday at 26th Street and Hibiscus Drive from noon to 6 p.m. Residents are limited to 10 sandbags per household.
On Monday, concerned citizens packed City Hall demanding answers after the recent flooding. Depew reassured residents that the city is actively working with the community.
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“I didn’t sleep at all last Saturday. I was up until 5 a.m. meeting with several residents. They are just happy we are there,” Depew said.
In response to residents’ concerns, the Edgewater City Council has agreed to hold a special meeting on Friday at 6 p.m. to discuss the possibility of a moratorium on all new developments.
On the council’s agenda prior to the recent flooding was a major development proposal along US 1 near Jones Fish Camp Road. The project includes plans for 196 rental units, 390 hotel rooms, a marina, and nearly 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
Depew also said crews were out in the Florida Shores neighborhood Wednesday evening, inspecting ditches and culverts, checking for clogs, and taking stormwater measurements.
Residents are expecting a large turnout for Friday’s meeting.
“You know it will be packed. I met a ton of my neighbors I never knew,” one resident said. “It’s the Shores. You can walk four blocks in any direction and see the flooding. Everyone is dealing with it.”
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