Palm Beach County Deals with Flooding from Issac
Monday, September 3, 2012
By: Christine DiMattei

September 3, 2012 | WMFE - There's no day off today for the multi-agency task force responding to residents in western Palm Beach County where many are still stuck in their homes by the standing floodwater left behind by Tropical Storm Isaac. For the sixth straight day, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews, sheriff's deputies and wildlife officers are going door to door in the waterlogged communities.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Captain Lee Forshner says most areas have seen improved conditions over the weekend:“The only one that we’re really concentrating efforts on now is Deer Run.  And we’re seeing a significant decrease in the need for resources, as well as water levels.  So there is definitely some changes for the better.”

Deer Run is located near the Lion Country Safari attraction.

Forshner says the task force has visited over 35-hundred homes, checking for property damage and delivering supplies:“Water.  Food – not only for them but for pets and animals.  So dog food, hay for horses and goats.  And we’ve been delivering some clean-up supplies which included bleach and mops and sanitizing sprays, etcetera, in order to assist with keeping themselves clean, as well as trying to start to start cleaning out some of their properties.”

Health officials say they’re worried about the risks associated with stagnant water surrounding the flooded areas – which include contamination from raw sewage, mold and mass breeding of mosquitoes. 

The county’s Mosquito Control team conducted an aerial spraying of about 270-thousand acres on Friday night.

The flood damage estimate for Palm Beach County is about 93-million dollars – but emergency managers expect that number to rise.