TALLAHASSEE / BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Monday afternoon for Brevard County and six other Florida counties after a slow-moving low pressure system dumped days of heavy rain across the peninsula, flooding neighborhoods, closing schools and courts, and raising questions about Tuesday’s General Election.
Executive Order 26-227, signed Monday and filed with the Florida Department of State at 3:53 p.m., covers Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties. The order states that a broad area of low pressure moving across the Florida peninsula from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 produced widespread heavy rainfall and “several occurrences of consequential flooding,” and that the conditions are projected to constitute a major disaster.
According to the order, Flash Flood Warnings were in effect for portions of all seven counties as of 12:30 p.m. Monday. The order also states that the flooding has affected and may continue to affect interstates, state and county roads, airports, schools and other critical infrastructure, and that additional rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast.
Flooding across Brevard
Brevard County crews spent Monday rescuing residents trapped in their homes, and Sheriff Wayne Ivey said 911 was being flooded with calls. Brevard Public Schools canceled classes for the day, as did Brevard Catholic schools. County courts and the State Attorney’s Office were also closed, and Health First Medical Group closed its locations Monday morning.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Palm Bay and West Melbourne, urging residents in those areas to move to higher ground. WFIT reported that the storm stalled over the county and dropped six to 10 inches of rain in some areas, with Palm Bay, Titusville, Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach among the hardest hit. Forecasters also warned that hazardous beach conditions, coastal flooding, erosion and rip currents could linger through the week once the low moves offshore.
Election Day provisions
The emergency declaration arrives the day before the Nov. 3 General Election, and Section 12 of the order addresses it directly. Any Supervisor of Elections who cannot fully comply with Section 101.71(2) and/or (3), Florida Statutes, the state law governing polling place changes, must notify the Florida Department of State of any partial or substitute measures the supervisor wants to take. Those measures are subject to approval by the Florida Secretary of State.
Brevard election officials said Monday they expect polling locations to be open on Election Day but are continuing to assess conditions as flooding persists in some areas.
The Supervisor of Elections’ main office in Viera, at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, remained open Monday, including its secure ballot intake station for voters returning completed mail ballots. The office’s Titusville, Melbourne and Palm Bay locations were closed to the public until further notice.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, and voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct. Mail ballots must be received at a Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. Tuesday to be counted. Voters who received a mail ballot but want to vote in person can bring it to their polling place and surrender it to a poll worker. Nearly 40 percent of Brevard voters had already cast ballots as of Monday morning.
Voters can check for polling place updates at VoteBrevard.gov and on the office’s social media accounts.
What the order does
The order designates the executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management as the State Coordinating Officer and directs him to carry out the state’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, including any rescue, logistical or evacuation operations. Among its other provisions:
- National Guard: The Adjutant General is ordered to activate the Florida National Guard as needed, and the Florida State Guard may also be activated.
- Price gouging: Selling or renting essential commodities at unconscionable prices is now prohibited in the declared counties under Section 501.160, Florida Statutes. Violations can be reported to the Florida Attorney General’s price gouging hotline at 1-866-966-7226.
- Prescriptions: Pharmacists may dispense up to a 30-day emergency refill of maintenance medications to residents of the affected counties.
- Shelters: Public schools, colleges and other government facilities suitable for use as shelters must be made available at the request of local emergency management agencies.
- Roads and tolls: The Florida Department of Transportation may waive tolls and close or manage roads as needed for emergency response and evacuations.
- Licenses and registrations: The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may waive fees for replacement driver’s licenses, ID cards, vehicle registrations, titles, license plates and handicapped parking permits lost or damaged in the weather, and may waive late fees for renewals delayed by office closures.
- Out-of-state help: Medical professionals, social workers and counselors licensed in other states may provide free services in Florida through the American Red Cross or the Florida Department of Health.
- Local government: Counties and cities may waive normal procurement and contracting procedures to respond to the emergency.
- Housing funds: The Florida Housing Finance Corporation is authorized to distribute funds to local governments in the declared counties.
The order also directs school superintendents to report school closures to the Florida Department of Education and authorizes emergency spending from the state’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund.
Executive Order 26-227 took effect immediately and expires in 60 days unless extended.
The Space Coast Rocket will continue to update this story as conditions develop.
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