Clay County Flood 2006 Flood Damage Photos

Above you can see some people travel with tractors during flood times. Most of the time this works but sometimes the water is too deep even for them

Here you can see a bridge totally submersed. The flood waters have isolated many Areas. Many people have their houses on high ground but can not travel for food and clean water or needed medical supplies. Many of our Search and Rescue calls are to simply transport families out of the area because of medical problems.

Our entire airport is officially closed until the water recedes.

As you can see here, the land is wavy so boats really do not work on the roads during a flood because of dry spots and trucks don’t work because the water can be up to 4 foot deep. We (the County) purchased an amphibious vehicle to do rescue work with on Monday after this photo was taken. This can be used on dry road, in shallow water, and deep water which we are presently experiencing.

Here is another example of partially flooded roads. Water then road then more water.

This is one of the newer bridges in the county. Too bad the road is not also upgraded. Also notice the total crop destruction. This is going to be a hard year for the county. I fear many more farmers will go bankrupt and move to the cities for jobs.

This is all that is left of the road to my house. I am more fortunate than many as I live in the hills. Four wheel drive is the only way in and out. We drive a four wheel drive because we must.

water was passing This is a brave county worker. What has to be done here is a backhoe is driven onto a bridge. It the reaches under the bridge and cleans the debris such as dead trees, straw, and trash out. This then allows the water to flow under the bridge. What you do not see in the picture is moments earlier when the water was passing over the bridge because of the debris blocking the path under it.

This is what happens when the backhoe operator can not get on the bridge fast enough. The water goes around and over the bridge washing out the ends. Sometimes the bridge get totally destroyed.

Many of the residents are not very wealthy, and do the best they can. This home is no longer livable as electric power becomes hazardous. The owner can not even re-enter the home to get clothes and such because to the electric hazard. Notice the propane tank in back. A very real danger is this tank can float and break it’s connection and becomes a mobile fire/explosion hazard.

Another problem is when fires do happen is Fire Trucks can not get to the houses. This house totally destroyed by fire. You can see a fire still burning 24 hours later. This fire is being fed by the propane tank in the back.

Many business and homes are damaged.

Here is one of our county employees “Bugs” smiling. The whole time I was out surveying damage all the county employees, most working overtime, were friendly and supportive knowing a positive attitude helps in a crises. We also know there is work to be done and we gotta get to it.