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W/O power for 3 days post-Milton. Overhead internet line replaced last weekend after being severed by a vehicle the morning after Milton. My 69-yr old 2-story house did fine, though a small amount of water did make it past 2 rows of sand bags into the front entry way when roofing debris (foam and tarpaper) from structures to the east (the length of 2 football fields away) covered 3 of the 4 storm drains at the intersection near the house (front yard had water depth of 2' before I cleared the storm drains after sunrise. Here is what I observed in Daytona Beach Shores (one block from the Atlantic Ocean) on the north side of hurricane Milton as the center exited near the Cape (45 miles to our south) early Thursday morning in Daytona Beach Shores, one block from the Atlantic Ocean... Precipitation (5AM Wednesday-8AM Thursday): 15.8 inches. Rain gauge spilled over in the pre-dawn hours at 11 inches during the height of the hurricane conditions when I did not dare to go out to empty. A 5-gallon bucket (anchored down with a paver) measured 13" from midnight to 8AM, so storm total likely an inch or two higher. Sustained wind speed (estimate): 80-85 mph Highest gust (estimate): 95-100 mph Based on structure damage and diameter of snapped tree limbs in my neighborhood, both on the immediate coast and several blocks off the coast given the funneling of wind between tall condos, the highest wind speed (estimate) of near 100 mph is similar to F1 tornado damage that I witnessed decades ago when I lived in North Brevard County. Beach erosion was substantial here in central Volusia County. 3' of sand was scoured out in front of sea walls, and on the County's vehicle access ramps (Dunlawton, Demotte, Emelia) remain closed due to undermining (failure) of the concrete and asphalt surfaces. The damage from the 2022 storms was never fully repaired by the County, so these access ramps between sea walls remain extremely vulnerable to additional erosion while the County works on their 50-yr "Resiliency Plan". |