Yards, boat ramps overflow with flood water in Seminole County

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Rain water is now messing with people’s weekend plans. Yards are overflowing and boat ramps are underwater.  

It’s not unusual for the Black Hammock Restaurant to see water levels on Lake Jesup this high.  What is unusual is that it’s not from a weather event or hurricane, but from your daily Florida summer rain.

“Our loading area is about two feet underwater, so we’ve had to make some adjustments and move some docks around,” said Stephen Dunn, who runs airboat tours at Black Hammock Restaurant.

All that water is forcing Seminole County to close six different boat ramps, piers and wilderness areas. County officials say Lakes Harney, Monroe and Jesup are all at minor flood stage. They say if just a tropical wave happens, it would cause serious damage. 

Black Hammock Restaurant is already experiencing some damage.

“The peninsula where you can kind of sit and can kind of hang out has been flooded out so it’s a little bit swampy back there,” said Dunn.

As of now, the rain shows no signs of stopping.

“Now it’s just everyday, everyday, everyday. There’s just no time for the water to go out.”

Seminole County Emergency Management says they’re also getting calls about flooded yards and overflowing retention ponds. They say this is the highest the water’s ever been at this point of the hurricane season.