Palm Bay mayor updates on city's flood recovery efforts

Recovery efforts still underway in Palm Bay after historic floods this week. Two people died when high water trapped them in their cars. The floodwaters also washed away roads and it got into several homes. We want to bring in Mayor Rob Medina, who is joining us live this morning to talk more about how the city is doing. First of all, great to have you again, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for being here. Well, good morning, ladies. Thank you for your interest in our great city. Really appreciate you highlighting what we've endured. You know, you mentioned it. This has been unprecedented. This is a thousand year storm. So think about it. Not even Methuselah lived that long. So I know that I won't see anything like this again. And many of our residents won't either. But I wanted to highlight the two lives that we've lost. This city's mourning. We have two Palm Bayers that were actually victims of this flood. 78-year-old... Archie Richards and 34-year-old Joshua Bennett. Thank you very much. Continue to pray for our city, continue to pray for the Bennett and Richards family for peace and comfort. That being said, we have had washed out roads right now. Falun Road was a complete washout. We've already given access to those 50 residents that have been out there. We continue to assess other locations. As the water has receded, ma'am, we are actually dealing with some bridges that have been compromised. So we're providing detours until we can actually see How we can restore that. I wanted to highlight also... We have individuals that there's no access to. And these individuals do not have their access to their mail or their medications. They have had that complete road washed out. It's affecting 250 individuals or so in the Palm Bay Estates. But in particular, about 60 residents are cut off from the rest of the community. And that's a dire concern. We're working hard to see how we can restore that. We've already made arrangements for Palm Bay Fire Rescue, in particular, to meet the needs of passing on medication and so on, because their lives are critically important as well. We do not need additional victims or part of this catastrophe. Ma'am, I will say this. We're helping businesses, and we'll be having a workshop, but it's in critical and dire need that this... Our federal government gives us a disaster declaration. So if I had an opportunity, I would love to say to our great president, Donald J. Trump, I've known that you have been an individual long before you were elected to care for people. You care so much for this nation. And so now I'm asking that, send the representative down to our community. This entire region is affected. It's affecting the part of the state of Florida. But, sir, send the representative. Come see firsthand if you can. It's a personal invitation, sir. I know how much you care for people. I know how much you care for this great nation. And so we need that declaration of disaster so that FEMA can come in and assist us. Right now, I'd like to get a temporary bridge for the people at Palm Bay Estates situated so that we can have access. to getting them their medication and and other businesses can actually be able to sustain their business because of all their losses. You know, there is no question, right? There is a long road to recovery for your residents. What's your message to them and what does that recovery look like? The recovery is going to be slow and intense. FEMA has got to be a play a huge role on this. As we continue to assess, we have had... Our partnerships with Florida Wildlife, I believe, we've had some state agencies that have come in. We've had those airboats transport some of these individuals, get them to high ground. So the recovery is, as I mentioned before, we're identifying some additional bridges like from the C-74 canal, C-47 canal, C-38 canal, that we're going to have to divert traffic until we feel that it will be safe. for motorists to go over those bridges, I should say. Ma'am, if anything, I gotta implore for that disaster declaration, because it's not only affecting the city of Palm Bay, but my neighbor city in Melbourne, West Melbourne, even down to Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie. This has been a devastation. We've actually had communicated with some of the residents at Sunswept. In the Turkey Creek area, the lieutenant governor and myself went hand in hand. We saw the devastation that this 1,000-year storm created. Now, we have to keep in mind, there was no way that anyone could have prepared for anything like this. And we're doing the best we can to come and make that restoration possible. Mr. Mayor, we so appreciate you taking the time to be with us because we know how busy you are right now. And we'll look into what it takes to get that federal disaster declaration. I know you got one from the state and from Governor DeSantis. I'm sure that they would probably be willing to work with the federal government to make sure that happens for everyone. One who's been affected, but we'll find out. And in the meantime, thank you so much. Praying for everybody in Palm Bay. And of course, for those lives lost. Just such a tragedy. Yes, you're absolutely right. The governor has done that. And my message is, President Trump, we need that declaration. Really appreciate all you do for our nation. And let's know that you're welcomed in the city of Palm Bay. Thank you so much. We'll see what we can find out about that, Mr. May. We really appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Take care.