Residents of the Lone Pine Estates community in Riviera Beach are confronting the aftermath of a sudden flood that inundated homes and streets earlier this week. The storm left water inside several houses, damaged flooring and personal property, and left many families without transportation.
Homeowners describe the damage
Mercedes Feaman posted a video showing her living room filled with water. “It was really bad. It came into my entire house through all my sliding doors, the front door, the garage. It went in the bedrooms and ruined the flooring, the wood flooring, the baseboards,” she said.
Neighboring homes fared better on the interior, but the exterior damage was evident. Jim Elder pointed to the high‑water mark on his vehicle, noting, “You can see it here… the water line that stayed there. It was above here.”
Connie Fox, another resident, explained the financial strain caused by the flood. “I have gap insurance, so they’ll pay off my loan. But now I’m left with a $500 deductible, and I have no car. How is someone supposed to live and go to work without a car?”
City response and resources
Mayor Ronnie Felder confirmed that the city has deployed a temporary assistance station at Lone Pine Park. The station provides water, hot meals, bleach, and paper products to affected families. “We are working to provide resources to those in need,” Felder said.
The mayor outlined the next steps for homeowners: “Call your insurance company first. Once you go through that, we’ll be sending assessors, mold mediators, and building officials through the complexes.” He also warned local vendors against price gouging, emphasizing the need to protect residents during the recovery period.
City crews worked through the night to pump water from Lone Pine Estates and continued efforts in the Indian Trace, Woodbine, and Turtle Cay neighborhoods. Officials will keep the Lone Pine Park assistance station open through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Residents with questions or who need to report additional damage can call the city’s information line at 877‑257‑2374.
Community coping and next steps
Homeowners are now focused on cleanup and preventing mold growth. Feaman said, “Now I’m trying to figure out how to get everything up and get everything out before the mold starts.” The Lone Pine Estates community, which contains more than 300 homes, was among the hardest‑hit areas, with some residents unable to drive to their houses until water was removed.
Local volunteers have begun assisting neighbors with debris removal and sandbag placement. The city encourages anyone able to help to coordinate with the assistance station to ensure efforts are organized and safe.
Looking ahead
Mayor Felder reiterated the city’s commitment to a swift recovery, noting that the emergency response will remain in place until all affected households have access to essential supplies and professional assistance. Residents are urged to document damage for insurance purposes and to stay informed through city communications.
Riviera Beach officials will continue to monitor water levels and weather forecasts, ready to deploy additional resources if needed. The community’s resilience and cooperation are key to restoring the neighborhood to normalcy.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
