MIDDLEBURG, Fla. — Some neighbors in Clay County are forced to wait and see whether Debby’s floodwaters reach inside their homes.
The county’s emergency management director is keeping a close eye on flooding from Blackwater Creek in Middleburg, especially on the creek's north side.
Michelle Miller lives on Lazy Acres Road, which was closed Tuesday morning. She said her family’s home never fully recovered after Irma and if it floods again, they’ll have to move.
“This is where I raised my kids, so it’s real tough,” Miller said.
Flooding on Black Creek’s north end was forecast to peak at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night at almost 20.4 feet, according to the National Weather Service. Flooding was nearly there earlier Tuesday when Lazy Acres Road was closed.
Clay County Emergency Management Director Timothy Devin said many people who live farther down the road have RVs elsewhere they’ve gone to.
“These residents though, they’re pros at this,” Devin said. “In fact, they teach us a lot because they have a lot of historical knowledge.
Miller said if water gets into her house Tuesday, it will mean good-bye to Lazy Acres Road.
“If it goes in the house this time we’ve gotta say good-bye,” she said.
For Miller, this would mean saying good-bye to a lot of memories.
“I loved my house full of kids,” she said. “I just loved having everybody around. I was everybody’s mom.”
Miller said leaving her home due to flooding from Debby would also mean saying good-bye to the idea of memories her family will never make.
“Grandbabies, son and daughter-in-law,” she said about the people helping her Tuesday. “I was hoping to have the memories here with them, but we’ll see.”
By Tuesday evening, Miller said floodwater was waist-deep in her yard and was about three to four steps from entering her home.