U.S. 90 closed and
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – Flooding has destroyed or caused major damage to at least 106 homes in north Florida and the Panhandle, and more overflows are threatened in the Suwannee River valley, state officials said Wednesday.
Officials closed U.S. Highway 90 at the Suwannee later Wednesday and said Interstate 10 could be next as the river continues to rise. They added that 253 other roads and 23 bridges were closed Wednesday.
Preliminary evaluations put damages at more than $22 million, the mark needed to seek a presidential disaster declaration. Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency in eight mostly rural counties on Wednesday, bringing the total to 26 so far.
The region has received between 10 and 15 inches of rain in the past two weeks. Preliminary assessments show 19 homes have been destroyed, 87 seriously damaged and 381 with minor damage.
State meteorologist Ben Nelson warned against trying to drive through flood waters that have already claimed the lives of two motorists, both in the Panhandle’s Okaloosa County.
“It’s impossible to tell how deep water is over a roadway at night,” Nelson said. “It takes only one to two feet of water to displace even an SUV from a roadway.”
A 35-year-old man lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree on March 28. The next day, a 75-year-old Alabama man died when his truck was swept away by water covering a road.
Assistant Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault said Interstate 10 should be the safest route across north Florida over the holiday weekend because it’s higher than other roads, but he advised motorists to first check travel conditions by dialing 511 or clicking their computers on www.fl511.com.
The wet weather has been confined to the northern part of Florida while the rest of the state continues to face drought conditions and the threat of wildfires, said emergency management spokesman Mike Stone.
“It’s literally a tale of two states,” Stone said.
American Red Cross officials say many neighborhoods remain inaccessible although some rivers are receding.
The Florida Emergency Information Line is open to Panhandle and Big Bend residents. The phone number is 1-800-342-3557.