Nicole impact on Brevard: Latest damage, power outage information you need to know

Dave Berman, Florida Today
·7 min read

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It was just a matter of inches that helped keep flooding from Hurricane Nicole to a minimum within Brevard County, county officials say.

The storm that slammed into the state early Thursday had the potential to bring 6 to 8 inches of rain to the Space Coast. But rainfall totals actually were in the 2.3-inch to 4.9-inch range within various parts of the county, according to preliminary data released by the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

Sections of Indian River Drive in Cocoa were blocked Thursday morning due to tree or power line issues.
Sections of Indian River Drive in Cocoa were blocked Thursday morning due to tree or power line issues.

Assistant Brevard County Manager John Denninghoff said the county is in "pretty good shape," as far as flooding issues, despite Nicole making its way through Brevard as a strong tropical storm.

"I'm very happy about it," said Denninghoff, who is assistant county manager for the development and environmental services group. "We're pleased with the outcome."

Notwithstanding the good news on flooding, the county still suffered damage due to high winds, and the beaches took a pounding from waves and storm surge.

Storm impacts: Hurricane Nicole knocked out power, toppled signs, flooded docks across Space Coast

What happened during storm: Tropical Storm Nicole brings widespread power outages and storm surge

Brevard County officials have only just begun an assessment of property damage from Hurricane Nicole.

As of Friday morning, county building officials declared at least 10 properties as uninhabitable, according to Peter Cranis, a public information officer for Brevard County Emergency Management. Seven are in the Melbourne Beach area, and one each in Melbourne, Port St. John and Satellite Beach. They include condos, resorts, private residences, a service station. The Andretti Thrill Park was on the list but its team said it only suffered superficial damage and reopened on Friday.

Some of the properties had structural damage. Others had their structures undermined by nearby beach erosion or other factors. There are no dollar estimates on damages, Cranis said.

But it was the lack of flooding that positively impacted most residents, compared with Ian six weeks ago.

Denninghoff said the lower-than-expected rainfall totals helped reduce the potential for widespread flooding in the county, as did the county's use of pumping systems before the storm in areas that are prone to flooding, where it was feasible.

The National Weather Service reported rainfall totals from the storm ranging from 4.85 inches in Cape Canaveral to 2.34 inches in flood-prone Merritt Island. Rainfall totals also were less than 3 inches in Melbourne, West Melbourne and Titusville.

Damaged properties being assessed

Brevard County Emergency Management Director John Scott said the county has its damage assessment process underway.

Scott said, because of Nicole's path and its wind speeds, he expected to see "a broader cross section" of locations within Brevard where the damage is found, as opposed the damage that was concentrated in the northern part of the county during Hurricane Ian.

"While we don't have reports of major damages or pockets of damage, we do have reports of sporadic damage, really tip to tip, south to north, east to west," Scott said.

Scott said he hopes to have a better idea range of the damage by early next week.

Jim Liesenfelt, assistant Brevard County manager for the community services group, said initial reports have started coming in related to damage at county park facilities.

This includes damage to beach crossovers at Bonsteel Park and Juan Ponce de León Landing in the south beaches area.

There also was roof and fence damage at Kelly Park on Merritt Island.

More than 48% lost power

More than 48% of Florida Power & Light Co.'s 331,250 Brevard County customers lost power during Nicole totaled.

FPL said 159,320 people lost power, with power restored to 148,880 of them and 10,440 still without power as of 1 p.m. Friday.

Because of high-tropical-storm-force winds were more widespread in Brevard County during Nicole than they were during Hurricane Ian in late-September, the power outages were more pronounced in this storm.

"If you're wondering why we had so much more power outages this storm than we did with Ian, the answer is we saw significantly more wind than we did with the Ian," Scott said.

Scott said wind gusts with Nicole were more in the 70-mph range, compared with gusts generally in 50-mph range with Ian.

"This is the kind of thing you see with wind events," Scott said.

Workers from Pike Electric restore power in Indialantic after power was disrupted by Hurricane Nicole.
Workers from Pike Electric restore power in Indialantic after power was disrupted by Hurricane Nicole.

Scott said FPL crews did a "phenomenal" job getting powered restored to so many customers in such a short period of time — especially considering that they could not go out in the field for repair work until winds dies down.

He said FPL representatives deployed at the county's Emergency Operations Center in Rockledge are the most popular people in the room, as they continue to work on addressing power outages.

Man dies during storm

A 68-year-old Port Canaveral man died early Thursday morning while his boat was battered against the dock at Lee Wenner Park in Cocoa during the peak of Hurricane Nicole in Cocoa, police said.

Cocoa police and firefighters responded just after 4:33 a.m. Thursday to a call from a woman who said her husband, Thomas Whittle, was in distress, Cocoa Police Department spokesperson Yvonne Martinez said in an email. The couple was located on their yacht, which was docked at Lee Wenner Park.

Police and firefighters boarded the yacht and began CPR on Whittle, Martinez said. As they did so, the yacht broke away from the dock and started to drift, although rescuers were able to secure it again with a rope.

A man who attempted to ride out the storm in this died from injuries suffered when the boat was tossed around and slammed into the dock during the storm.
A man who attempted to ride out the storm in this died from injuries suffered when the boat was tossed around and slammed into the dock during the storm.

The couple was taken to a local hospital, where Whittle was pronounced dead. The cause of death was not confirmed.

Detectives are conducting a follow-up investigation.

Lee Wenner Park is located off Riveredge Boulevard.

Port Canaveral reopens

Port Canaveral reopened at noon Friday, after getting clearance to do so from the U.S. Coast Guard.

There were three ships scheduled to be in port on Friday to drop off passengers and board a new group of passengers.

Of those, the Carnival Liberty and the Disney Wish were scheduled to arrive later than planned on Friday. The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas delayed its arrival to Saturday.

The port was closed on Wednesday and Thursday because of Nicole. No cruise ships had been scheduled in port those two days.

Be cautious on beaches

Cranis said rough surf continues along Brevard's beaches.

"We are recommending people don’t go in over waist-high the next few days," Cranis said. "And always swim where there is a lifeguard."

Scott added that he would advise against being out on the surf this weekend.

Brevard County Fire Rescue issued this statement on the beaches:

"Brevard County will be under 'red-flag conditions,' due to Hurricane Nicole. Strong rip currents and rough surf are still present, extending into next week. Brevard County is encouraging all residents and beachgoers to use good judgment; observe safety warnings posted on coastal walkovers and ramps; and to avoid entering the water until conditions improve."

BCFR advised people to "please check with lifeguards, as hazards such as rip currents, damaged crossovers and storm debris may be present in areas."

Storm shelters closed

Brevard County on Friday closed the last of its four hurricane shelters that opened for Hurricane Nicole.

At the peak of occupancy, a total of 224 people took advantage of Brevard County's emergency storm shelters in Micco, Sharpes, Viera and West Melbourne to ride out Nicole. There also were 20 pets in the shelters — about evenly divided between dogs and cats.

Cleanup help is available

A Home Cleanup Hotline has opened to help people who experienced damage from Hurricane Nicole.

Brevard County officials anticipate that most volunteer groups will work through Nov. 25.

People needing assistance can call 800-451-1954.

Volunteers may be able to assist with:

  • Cutting fallen trees.

  • Drywall, flooring and appliance removal.

  • Tarping roofs.

  • Mold mitigation.

The service is free, but not guaranteed.

Resident reports sought 

Brevard County officials are encouraging people whose property or home has sustained damage as a result of Tropical Storm Nicole to submit photos or a description of the damage.

The information will help the county better understand the most impacted areas of Brevard County. County officials emphasized that this form is not an application for any kind of assistance.

Brevard County Emergency Management uses this information to make informed decisions on operations to serve the community.

A damage assessment self-report form can be found on this link: https://www.crisistrack.com/public/brevardFL/request.html

Tyler Vazquez and Finch Walker contributed to this story.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Here's how rainfall, winds from Nicole affected Brevard flooding, damage