Residents of West Palm Beach's Riverwalk community say they have been trapped for days by floodwaters after a one-in-1,000-year rain event. They report flooded streets, wildlife in the water, children missing school and Amazon deliveries no longer reaching parts of the community, and they fear the water could linger for weeks.
Residents of West Palm Beach's Riverwalk community say they have been trapped for days by floodwaters left behind after a one-in-1,000-year rain event. Resident Don Gentile said every street in the gated community had flooding.
Wildlife in the water
Floodwaters have been high enough for fish, venomous snakes and alligators to swim up to homes. Residents told WPTV reporter Michael Hoffman they had spotted fish and venomous snakes in the flooded streets. Hoffman saw at least one alligator swimming near a home in RiverWalk. While Gentile was walking Hoffman into his backyard, they came face to face with an alligator in the water. Neighbor James Whited said the alligator's head was bigger than a Volkswagen.
Daily life disrupted
The flooding left some families unable to drive through the neighborhood. Some children have been unable to get to school, and residents said Amazon deliveries were no longer reaching parts of the community. According to residents, some people were buying plane tickets to leave the area until conditions improve, while others said they had little choice but to stay in their homes.
Questions and concerns
Residents are questioning what preparations could have been in place. Resident Debra Zeitz asked why such an event couldn't be predicted or an emergency response set up for the neighborhood's situation. Residents said the neighborhood association has been working on a plan, but they fear the standing water could remain for days or even weeks. Residents are being urged to use caution on the roads and avoid unnecessary travel through flooded areas.
