GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — Heavy rainfall flooded parts of Green Cove Springs on Monday, temporarily shutting down several roads and putting significant stress on the city’s stormwater system.
City officials said Center Street, including the area near Green Street, and portions of Roberts Street were closed after heavy rain inundated parts of the city’s stormwater system. The roads have since reopened.
According to Action News Jax’s First Alert Weather Team, Green Cove Springs received around six inches of rain within three to four hours.
Video shared with Action News Jax by a Green Cove Springs resident showed a motorcyclist riding through floodwaters as conditions worsened across the city.
“The heavy rainfall did place some significant stress on our stormwater system in some areas, and that’s the reason that we’re experiencing some flooding,” said Heather Fincher, public information officer for the City of Green Cove Springs.
In a statement to Action News Jax, the city said, “The heavy rainfall has inundated portions of the City’s stormwater system, and some homes may be experiencing flooding.”
With additional rainfall in the forecast this week, Action News Jax asked city leaders whether the stormwater system is prepared to handle more rain.
“We’ve got emergency protocols in place, you know. But we have hurricanes, so our systems can definitely sustain it, but I think it’s just, it was a lot of water dumped at once,” Fincher said.
The city’s public works director also defended the drainage system in a statement, saying Monday’s rainfall was comparable to what can occur during a tropical weather event.
“Today’s rainfall was comparable to what can be experienced during a tropical weather event, with a significant amount of water falling in a relatively short period. That does not, by itself, indicate a failure of the stormwater system,” the statement read.
The City of Green Cove Springs is reminding residents not to drive through standing water, avoid barricaded roadways, and use caution during periods of heavy rain.
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