A pickup truck making its way through large amounts of water, a man lying on a surfboard in the middle of a flooded street, and another person paddling in a red kayak under the rain are some of the shocking scenes that showcase the magnitude of the flooding recorded this Monday in Brevard County, Florida.
The American meteorologist Matt Devitt shared the photographs on his Facebook page, along with a warning about the extreme conditions in the cities of Palm Bay and West Melbourne, where heavy rainfall caused sudden flooding from the early hours of the morning.
Devitt reported that between 12 and 20 inches of rain had accumulated in the area since midnight, and that the rainfall was still ongoing at the time of his post.
The meteorologist warned that numerous roads had become impassable and that several vehicles had been stranded.
It also announced the suspension of classes in the public schools of Brevard County.
"New photographs continue to arrive, showing the extent of the severe flooding in the area," wrote Devitt, who stated that he would continue to share updates on the weather situation.
The severity of the flooding prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to declare a flash flood emergency in Palm Bay and West Melbourne, due to the risk that rising waters could endanger the lives of residents.
In a bulletin issued at 9:34 a.m. Eastern Time, the agency reported accumulations of 12 to 15 inches of rain in the affected areas and warned that an additional three to five inches could still fall.
The consequences extended to the daily activities of the county. In addition to the closure of public schools, authorities suspended judicial activities and alerted residents about several flooded roads, including sections of Minton Road in West Melbourne.
The emergency due to catastrophic flooding declared in Brevard prompted authorities to urge the public to seek higher ground and avoid unnecessary travel.
The NWS specifically warned against attempting to drive through flooded streets, as the depth of the water and the strength of the current can be difficult to gauge from a vehicle.
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