Heavy rainfall has left neighborhoods, roads and dozens of homes flooded across DeSoto County, and Arcadia is taking the brunt of it. Water has filled front yards, reached porches near DeSoto County Middle and High Schools, blocked neighborhood streets and pooled in business parking lots. Longtime resident Heriberto Alejo Rivero, who has lived in Arcadia since 1992, said the flooding caught him off guard, with about two feet of water near his parked van.
All DeSoto County public schools and district offices are closed Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Wednesday, Nov. 4, and after-school activities, athletics and extracurricular events are canceled during the closure. A decision about Thursday is expected Wednesday. Arcadia police are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel because of high water at intersections, and the city reports sanitary sewer overflows at multiple locations. Keep children and pets away from standing water near manholes and lift stations. Drinking water is unaffected and there is no boil water notice, though the Peace River is expected to rise.
If you’re in a low-lying area, stay put when you can, check on neighbors who live alone, and keep an eye on the forecasts over the next couple of days. Have you seen flooding on your street? Share what you’re seeing so your neighbors know what to expect.
