NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Floodwaters rose to near knee-deep levels in portions of New Smyrna Beach on Tuesday night, prompting the city to bring out pumps to help dry out some streets.
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The 400 block of Columbus Avenue was one of the hardest-hit areas.
"This is the worst it's ever been," said James Menzies, who said flooding has been a problem during the two years he's lived on Columbus Avenue.
Menzies said Tuesday's rains top anything he's seen. The floodwaters almost made it inside his downstairs neighbor's place.
"It was all the way up to right about there," said Jay Howell, showing a water line slightly below the one step leading to his apartment.
The rainfall along the Volusia County coast is record-setting. More than 6 inches fell Tuesday and it caused problems all over.
In Port Orange, a viewer sent Local 6 pictures of the floodwaters that got inside his house. They spent all night cleaning it up.
In New Smyrna Beach, Public Works offered free sand and free bags to residents to keep the water away -- all they had to do was shovel it themselves.
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The offer came too late for the people who live at 426 Columbus Ave. -- a quarter-inch of water seeped inside before they got to put sandbags out. Across the street, their neighbor arrived home from a five-minute trip to the store, not realizing how deep these waters in front of house got while he was gone.
"I assumed I knew how deep it was from before I left," said Charlie Guzman. "Now it's becoming more of a concern -- what if something happens and I need to leave here?"
The city of New Smyrna Beach brought in a pump that ran Tuesday night to help get rid of some of the water and allow the people on Columbus Avenue get to work in the morning.
"We're past the rainy season. I was not expecting this at all," said T. K. Donle, who is house-sitting for a friend.
Jeff Osterland, who lives in Port Orange, can sympathize.
"I was in the middle of making cranberry sauce and starting to decorate. I walked through here and there was water bubbling up through my floor," said Osterland.
Osterland can't believe water is back in his house again.
"A hurricane is one thing, but this was just rain and it's the second time it happened. The last time I think was in August," Osterland said.
Residents in those areas spent Wednesday cleaning up, thankful the rain is over and it's nothing but clear skies for now.
Cedar Avenue is mostly dry except for standing water in front of one house.
If residents in New Smyrna Beach still have water in their area, the city said to call the Maintenance Operations Department.
