'It’s not as bad as Hurricane Ian': Astor is relieved Tropical Storm Nicole wasn't worse
ASTOR — It’s wet but not wild in Astor, with flooding from Tropical Storm Nicole not as bad as it was with Hurricane Ian.
“We’re open," Michelle McHenry said on Friday. She's one of the managers at Drifters Riverfront Bar and Grill.
It’s true, water was lapping at the bottom of plate-glass windows overlooking the flooded river, and the docks were under water, but workers were busy preparing for the lunch crowd they hoped would show up starting at 11 a.m. The restaurant literally sits in the shadow of the State Road 40 bridge to Volusia County – when the sun comes out.
Storm coverage: Nicole downgraded to tropical depression, still bringing heavy rain to North Florida
Previous coverage: Rural Astor deals with Hurricane Ian, flooding
Previous help: FEMA aid available now that Lake County is part of Federal Disaster Declaration area
For Friday, the National Weather Service was forecasting “considerable cloudiness with a slight chance of showers late in the morning, then partly cloudy with a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.”
It could have been worse
On the north side of the bridge, Al Hendrickson and his family were again cleaning up their yard and flooded street after the storm.
“It’s not as bad as Hurricane Ian," Hendrickson said.
The river crested at 4.71 feet on Oct. 1 during Ian, shattering a record that dated to 1933.
It was 4.52 feet on Friday, and residents were cheered by the National Weather Service’s use of the word “slight” when it mentioned rain.
A gentle breeze will also help dry out the overloaded basin, but it will take some time before the river returns to its normal banks. Flood stage is 2.3 feet.
Hendrickson said his rain gauge recorded 3 inches.
On Wednesday, as Nicole approached, county officials said Lake could get 3 to 8 inches of rain.
Nicole did damage elsewhere
Nicole was a monster on the east coast, wiping out sea walls and homes and pummeling Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties with high winds, storm surge and a high lunar tide.
Even when it hightailed it out of Central Florida, the storm brought heavy rain as it slogged its way to the Panhandle, Georgia, the Carolinas and above.
Before leaving Lake, high winds from Jacksonville and Lake George north of Astor pushed back on the St. Johns and kept it from its normal northward flow.
Riding out the storm
For some reason, the storm washed an unusual high number of weeds into his yard, making it a busy chore day for Hendrickson’s daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
His tuxedo cat, named “Cat,” seemed to enjoy walking on dry ground near cypress knees and being petted by family members.
She rode out the storm on a shelf in the carport, strong and unruffled, like the rest of the river residents.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Astor, Florida is glad Tropical Storm Nicole didn't have too much rain
