Port Orange homeowners have learned that it doesn’t take a hurricane to flood a street. In September 2025, a Sunday night storm dropped 4.23 inches of rain in a single hour on parts of Volusia County, and some neighborhoods filled up fast.
Sleepy Hollow and Brittany Avenue
ClickOrlando reported that the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood and Brittany Avenue, off Spruce Creek Road, saw the most water. Resident Tina Stevenson told the station that she had installed French drains after the 2022 and 2024 hurricanes, and water still made it into her raised home because the drains could not keep up. Another neighbor, Lauren Benning, said something “is just not right” about how often regular storms now flood the area.
What the city said
The City of Port Orange blamed the flooding on very intense rain arriving with a full moon and high tide. The city said it does regular maintenance in older neighborhoods that were built before modern drainage standards. It has secured $3 million in state funding for drainage improvements in Sugar Forest and is going after grants for other vulnerable areas, including Sleepy Hollow and Portona.
A month later: Raintree Drive
In early October 2025, Spectrum News 13 spoke with Mark Casel, who has watched his street flood again and again. He said that after about 2.5 inches of rain, water on Raintree Drive got about four feet deep, leaving the street impassable and neighbors stacking sandbags at their doors. Casel believes newer developments nearby changed how water moves through the area.
Volusia County Public Works Director Clayton Jackson told the station that drainage crews work year-round to keep canals clean and drainage systems working, and the county urged residents to clear gutters and culverts ahead of more rain.
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Questions and answers
Why does Port Orange flood during regular storms?
The city pointed to very intense rainfall combined with high tide, plus older neighborhoods built before modern drainage standards. Some residents believe nearby development has changed how water flows.
Is Port Orange doing anything about it?
Yes. The city secured $3 million in state funding for Sugar Forest drainage improvements and is applying for grants for areas including Sleepy Hollow and Portona.
When did the Sleepy Hollow flooding happen?
During a Sunday night storm in September 2025 that dropped 4.23 inches of rain in one hour, ClickOrlando reported.
This article is general information drawn from the sources listed below. It is not professional, legal, insurance or restoration advice. DIY-DRY is an equipment rental company.
Sources
- ClickOrlando (WKMG News 6), “Port Orange flooding raises concerns as more rain is forecast this week,” Sept. 8, 2025 – clickorlando.com
- Spectrum News 13, “Heavy rain and flooding risks increase in Volusia County,” Oct. 3, 2025 – mynews13.com