The quiet of Clermont was shattered yesterday as residents of the Emerald Lakes mobile home community found themselves in the crosshairs of Hurricane Milton's relentless downpour. The downpour led to mandatory evacuations due to significant flooding. FOX 35 Orlando reported that local authorities, including the Clermont Police Department and Clermont Fire Department, were at the scene to aid in the evacuation. However, the exact number of affected homes and residents remains uncertain.
As water levels rose rapidly, roads became treacherous portions of the no man’s land, making them impossible to pass. The police department urged residents not to navigate through standing water and to avoid walking in flood waters; this information has been crucial for public safety after the hurricane. According to WFTV, the Emerald Lakes community had already sustained over a foot of rain and anticipated additional water level rises between six inches to a foot.
In response to the escalating situation, Lake County Emergency Management imposed a county-wide no-wake order for all bodies of water, an attempt to mitigate further disaster in already perilous conditions. The civic response was triggered by the report of rising water levels, particularly when a power company deemed it unsafe for residents to remain in their homes.
Rescue efforts were concerted, and officers and fire department personnel went door to door to escort residents to safety. The city had previously attempted to prepare residents for the potential aftermath by knocking on doors and now has established a shelter specifically designated for those displaced from the Emerald Lakes neighborhood.