Okeechobee County was still confronting flooding across roads, low-lying ground and ranchland after this week's exceptional rain. On Saturday, cowboys rode into the floodwater to move stranded cows and calves toward dry ground. The operation was one of several efforts to protect cattle as rising water left ranches with limited dry ground; the number of animals involved and whether all reached safety remain unclear.
The Saturday rescue followed an effort a day earlier at Alderman Deloney Ranch along Highway 68. According to WPEC, cowboys from Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties joined forces to move cattle from flooded pastures. Matt Clemons, whose family owns the Okeechobee Livestock Market, took part. A family member who shared footage of the effort said it disrupted traffic along the highway.
Flooding Keeps Threatening Ranches Across the Region
The Saturday and Friday rescues weren't isolated incidents. As CW34 reported, widespread flooding has continued to threaten ranches across the region, with multiple operations reporting cattle pushed onto whatever high ground they could find. Williamson Cattle Company said portions of its Okeechobee ranch were underwater, though the company reported that all of its cattle were safe.
At Hungryland Farms in Martin County's Trailside community, the situation looked similarly dire. Floodwaters submerged much of the pasture there, forcing a herd of Florida Cracker cattle onto the property's elevated driveway and house pad just to stay dry. Owner Melissa Chirico had previously told CBS12 News she was concerned about her cattle's safety as rising water left them with limited dry ground to stand on.
Why the Water Rose So Fast
The flooding behind these rescues traces back to an extraordinary rain event. Okeechobee County public safety director Justin Hazellief said the county experienced what he described as a 1-in-200-year rainfall event, with around 9 to 10 inches falling in just six hours on a single Sunday, according to WPTV. Hazellief said the southwest portion of the county bore the brunt of the damage, and the Okeechobee School District closed schools that Monday before planning to reopen them the following Tuesday.
By November 5, the scale of the cleanup was becoming clear. Okeechobee County remained at a Level 1 emergency level after 13 inches of rain dumped across the county, flooding roads and low-lying areas, per WGCU. Crews had pumped roughly 62 million gallons of water off roadways and low-lying ground, and the county was added to the governor's emergency order for the week's flooding, a move that strengthens its ability to seek state assistance.
Cattle Instinct and Past Rescues Offer Some Perspective
Earlier floods have also prompted large cattle rescues in the area. At Alderman-Deloney Ranch, a separate operation saved 500 cows and about 80 calves, according to WPBF. Traffic on Orange Avenue was stopped so the herd could reach dry land.
The outcome of this week's rescue remains unknown: reports have not established how many cattle were involved or whether every animal reached safety.
Preparing Livestock for Floods
For livestock owners planning for emergencies, Florida Disaster recommends accounting for supplies including animal identification, food and water, medications, and handling equipment. There is a documented precedent for cattle returning after a major rescue: WPTV reported that all the cows rescued from a flooded Okeechobee County ranch in September following Hurricane Irma later returned to their own pasture. The outcome of this week's rescue has not yet been established.
