County Urges Preparedness, Opens Sandbag Site, and Highlights No-Wake Restrictions Along St. Johns River

Posted On: November 3, 2026

With water levels along the St. Johns River expected to continue rising over the next several days, Volusia County is encouraging residents near the river to take precautions and prepare for potential impacts to their properties and nearby roadways.

Although Volusia County did not experience the same extreme rainfall as neighboring counties, recent heavy rainfall across Central Florida is contributing to rising water levels along the St. Johns River. The river flows north from its headwaters in Indian River County, through Brevard and Volusia counties, before eventually emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. Over the coming days, additional runoff from the heavy rainfall in neighboring counties is expected to drain into the river, causing water levels to continue rising and potentially affecting nearby properties and roadways in Volusia County.

Residents in areas along the St. Johns River, including communities such as Astor, Hontoon Island, Lake Harney, Stone Island, and riverfront areas near DeLand, should begin preparing now for the possibility that rising water could cover nearby roads and temporarily limit access to their homes. Although evacuations are not being recommended at this time, residents should take steps to ensure they have essential supplies available in case travel becomes difficult or unsafe.

The County encourages residents in these areas to have adequate supplies of food, drinking water, prescription medications, pet food, and other necessities to sustain their households for several days. Residents should also consider any additional needs of children, older adults, and individuals who rely on medical equipment or other specialized supplies.

To help residents protect their properties, Volusia County has opened a self-service sandbag location in the lot adjacent to Volusia County Fire Rescue Station 36, 180 N. State Road 415, Osteen. The site is now open and will remain accessible until 5 p.m. today, Nov. 3. Beginning tomorrow, Nov. 4, the site will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice. Sand and bags are available on-site at no cost. Residents should bring their own shovels and gloves to fill and transport sandbags. Because a properly filled sandbag can weigh more than 30 pounds, residents are encouraged to bring someone to help fill and load the bags.

When properly placed, sandbags can help reduce the amount of water entering homes and other structures. Placing plastic sheeting or other waterproof barriers between sandbags and vulnerable openings, such as doorways, can provide an additional layer of protection by helping prevent water from seeping through gaps.

Boaters traveling along the St. Johns River and its connected waterways should also exercise caution as water levels rise. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has established idle-speed, no-wake restrictions in several areas along the river. Boat wakes can push additional water onto already vulnerable shorelines, potentially affecting nearby properties, docks, and other structures. Boaters should observe all posted restrictions and reduce their speed to minimize wakes.

Volusia County will continue monitoring conditions along the St. Johns River and coordinating with the National Weather Service and other agencies as water levels rise. Residents are encouraged to monitor changing conditions, avoid driving through flooded roadways, and stay informed through the County's official social media channels and the Volusia Emergency Management app, which provides timely weather alerts and emergency information.