Digital influencer Camila Pérez, known online as CamilaTaste, provided real-time coverage of the flooding that recently engulfed her neighborhood in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. She captured the dramatic rise of water levels, noting how it quickly escalated from ankle-deep to reaching her knees within a matter of hours.
“I’m not sure when my house turned from having a lake view to being in the lake,” Camila humorously remarked in her Instagram video.
Camila explained how the lake, which is typically several meters away from her property, came alarmingly close, less than a meter from her fence during the peak of the flooding.
“Usually, the lake is over 25 meters from our fence, and now it’s less than a meter away,” she described with concern, maintaining her signature humor throughout.
The situation took a wilder turn when a neighbor reported spotting a snake swimming through the neighborhood streets. Camila joked, “Dora the Explorer did an about-face and went back indoors,” to describe her reaction.
The torrential rains also put a damper on Halloween festivities. “We’ve had such relentless rains that we couldn’t celebrate Halloween without getting soaked like drenched chickens,” she recounted.
Fearing the worst, Camila opted to keep her children home from school after waking up to the downpour. Her primary concern was the garage flooding: “I see the garage flooding as the most immediate threat,” she warned.
Despite the severity of the situation, Camila noted that her area was somewhat less affected compared to the rest of the city due to the drainage systems in place. “We are fortunate to have a drainage system here, which is why it’s not as flooded. But the rest of the city is completely underwater,” she pointed out.
She concluded her video with a blend of worry and humor, saying, “I can’t imagine what tomorrow morning will look like if this continues through the night. If things keep up like this, the next vlog will be from a kayak!”
This incident is part of a massive weather event impacting Florida's east coast from October 31st through Tuesday. A low-pressure system unleashed six to ten inches of rain across the Treasure Coast region, which includes St. Lucie County.
Port Saint Lucie authorities shut down several thoroughfares, including California Boulevard, Savona Boulevard, and Prima Vista Boulevard. In certain areas like SW Cameo Boulevard, floodwaters reached the windows of standard vehicles.
Governor Ron DeSantis issued an emergency executive order for St. Lucie and six other Florida counties, while the city declared a local state of emergency.
Impact of Flooding in Port Saint Lucie
What caused the recent flooding in Port Saint Lucie?
The flooding was caused by a low-pressure system that resulted in six to ten inches of rain in the Treasure Coast region, including St. Lucie County.
How did the flooding affect local residents?
Residents experienced significant flooding with water levels reaching as high as vehicle windows in some areas, leading to road closures and disruption of daily activities.
What actions were taken by local authorities?
Local authorities closed multiple roads and the governor issued an emergency executive order for the affected counties, while the city declared a local state of emergency.