For Taylor Road resident Martha Bailey, flooding in DeLand, Florida, became more than a recurring headache. After hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, she said water covered the road, flooded the family barn, and kept her and her husband from leaving for weeks.
That experience is now helping push a flood-control project forward in Volusia County.
Here's what to know
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the Volusia County Council committed $1 million to the Taylor Road Flood Mitigation project, according to Spectrum News 13. The full project is expected to cost more than $11 million, with funding from Transform386 and the county.
The county's purchase of property beside an existing stormwater pond is part of the plan, giving it room to expand the pond and create more storage during heavy rain.
"I think they need to do it as soon as possible," Bailey said. "If we get another big rain or storm, the water's going to come here again, it might be worse this time."
At the Oct. 6 meeting, Volusia County Council District 1 representative Don Dempsey said, "I hope this plan works but at least it's a lake we can use for runoff and it's accessible."
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More background
Residents say the flooding has affected access and the ability to leave the area, making it more than just water collecting on the ground.
DeLand resident JC Figueredo, who lives near Taylor Road, said nearby development may be worsening the area's drainage issues. He said runoff from surrounding developments has worsened flooding around his property.
Figueredo said, "We're in a closed basin, which historically without the overbuilding, it's been OK to handle storms and stuff, but now we're in a spot where water has nowhere to leave it."
He also raised concerns about Lake Moore's capacity, since the planned system would discharge stormwater there.
What's being done?
With the parcel the county acquired next to the existing pond, the county could expand the Taylor Road stormwater pond and hold more runoff during intense storms.
Plans also call for a pump station connected to the Taylor Road Pond that would send stormwater into Lake Moore.
As part of the design and permitting process, the county said it will study Lake Moore in response to residents' concerns about capacity. The goal is to make sure excess water does not affect nearby properties.
Construction is planned to start in early 2028.
Where can I learn more?
For a broader look at how Florida communities deal with flooding and hurricanes, these articles cover preparation, storm impacts, and recovery efforts statewide. They cover flood-protection tactics, storm damage across the state, flash flood risks, and examples of storm-hardened housing and infrastructure.
• In Florida, flood protection methods gain urgency as hurricane seasons intensify.
• After Hurricane Idalia, catastrophic flooding in Florida left residents needing food and relief.
• In southwest Florida, Babcock Ranch stayed resilient as a community completely powered by solar.
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