- February 12, 2025
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The city distributed 30,000 gallons of water from FEMA. Shown are city employees Gerry Pitchford and John Collins. Photo by Wayne Grant
A tree was uprooted in Fortunato Park and the river washed under the sidewalk. Photo by Wayne Grant
The trees that are lying all over the city with upturned root balls can be blamed for the damaged water mains that caused the loss of water.
When a tree root comes up, it shakes the ground and jostles the water mains, cracking the pipes or separating the joints.
So many pipes broke, that the city’s water supply, stored in tanks at the water plant, all drained out. The city “makes” six million gallons a day and all of it leaked out through the pipes, according to Ted Macleod, deputy city manager and public works director.
He said it’s difficult to find leaks when it’s raining, because you look for water bubbling up. But, all the pipes were repaired after the storm and a boil-water alert was issued.
EPA standards call for two tests of drinking water, after pressure has been lost in a system, because a lack of pressure can allow contamination.
The boil-water alert was lifted about 11 a.m. on Oct. 11.
MacLeod said the boil water alert had to be issued for the city because the entire system lost pressure and it’s all connected.
“If you dropped red dye into a pipe, it would eventually show up everywhere,” he said.
When the city lost its water supply, City Manager Joyce Shanahan contacted Volusia County, which in turn contacted FEMA, which then delivered 30,000 cases of water in two trucks. Water was distributed at two locations for three days until it ran out. Each case had 24 16-ounce bottles and there was a limit of one case per household.
The call for water was out of an “abundance of caution,” said City Manager Joyce Shanahan
The city’s Emergency Operation Center was a room in the police department throughout the storm. Shanahan said division heads, department managers and some administrators spent the night and slept in the offices.
“It’s not a hard shelter,” Shanahan said about the police building. “I think it’s rated for a Category 2.”
Being together, they were able to be in contact during the storm and immediately after. Shanahan said this was useful, because cell phone service was “crazy” throughout the weather event.
She said they were still evaluating any damage to city facilities. There may be damage to a picnic shelter at Nova Recreation Center, but the city is concentrating on roads, water and sewers.
