NSBNEWS.net video by Sera King. Oak Hill police Sgt. Robert Walker gives NSBNEWS.net a tour of the flooding situation during Tropical Storm Fay.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Tropical Storm Fay dumped a lot of water over Florida, with DeBary, Deltona and Osteen getting the worst of it, though all areas of Volusia County had to deal with the precipitation and wind. Not only did the county suffer $13 million in property damages during Aug. 18-24, but a tourist drowned in the surf.
Satmira Krkuti, 35, of Brooklyn, N.Y., drowned while wading in thigh-deep water with her husband during a visit to Daytona Beach, when the storm did not appear to be so fierce, but rip currents made swimming a dangerous venture.
She was among 11 people in the Sunshine State to die as a result of the storm that also caused $180 million in property damage, resulting in George Bush declaring parts of Floida, including Volusia and Brevard, counties, a disaster area, eligible for funding.
While rainfall was measured as high as 2 feet in some parts of West olusia, portions of Brevard saw 5-feet highs and the spawning of tornadoes.
Fay traveled through the entire state, making initial landfall in the Florida Keys and coming ashore again in the Naples area. Fay then crossed the state and exited near New Smyrna Beach, coming onshore again near St. Augustine and Jacksonville, crossing the Panhandle and finally leaving the Pensacola area into Alabama, early on Aug. 24.
DeBary had 138 damaged or destroyed homes followed by Deltona with 33, Osteen with 25, Orange City with six and other areas with lesser numbers.
Southeast Volusia endured mostly flash flooding and some intermittent power outages from strong winds.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed," New Smyrna Beach Mayor Sally Mackay said midway through the arduous week.