Written by Amber Bierfreund

Historic rainfall has caused devastating flooding across Brevard County, Florida, leaving neighborhoods underwater, roads impassable and families displaced from their homes. Some communities in Palm Bay and Melbourne received an extraordinary 20–25 inches of rain in less than 48 hours, triggering dangerous flash flooding and numerous high-water rescues. As floodwaters slowly recede in southern Brevard County, rising levels along the St. Johns River threaten additional flooding in central and northern communities.

The American Red Cross is on the ground, working alongside Brevard County Emergency Management and community partners to provide safe shelter, essential necessities and emotional support to those affected. In the coming days, Red Cross teams will begin surveying damage and distributing much-needed relief supplies while preparing for the possibility of additional flooding.

A Safe Place to Land After Losing Nearly Everything

For Palm Bay resident Judith, November 2 began with a frightening discovery.

Her roommate, Hilda, woke her with alarming news: Water was coming into their home.

With a canal overflowing behind the house and floodwaters rising in the street out front, water poured in from both directions. The two women desperately tried to keep up with towels and mops, but the water continued rising.

“It was so bad. The water just kept coming in, flooding in, flooding in,” Judith recalled.

As conditions became increasingly dangerous, Judith’s daughter arranged for someone with a kayak to help the women escape. Soaking wet and with nowhere to go, they waited for hours at a nearby Dollar General until Palm Bay firefighters arrived to help.

The firefighters eventually brought them to a Red Cross shelter in Cocoa, where they found something they desperately needed: safety, comfort and compassion.

“Thank God, they’re very good people,” Judith said of the Red Cross volunteers. “They treat us very well. I’m very thankful.”

At the shelter, Judith and Hilda received meals, clean blankets, towels and a place to rest. Just as importantly, they found familiar faces among neighbors who had also been displaced by the flooding.

“The volunteers have been great. They’re very polite, very respectful, very kind,” Judith shared. “They see us crying, and they comfort us.”

But the road to recovery will be difficult.Judith’s daughter returned to the home to find appliances overturned, furniture destroyed and nearly everything they owned damaged by floodwaters. Both women’s vehicles were also destroyed. Retired and living on a limited Social Security income, Judith does not have homeowners or flood insurance.

After living in Palm Bay since 1984, she says she has never experienced anything like this.

Despite the overwhelming loss, Judith remains grateful for the neighbors, first responders and Red Cross volunteers who helped her through the disaster.

Red Cross Response and Recovery Efforts

As the flooding response continues, Red Cross teams are focused on meeting immediate needs while preparing for the challenges ahead.

Emergency Sheltering: Red Cross volunteers opened a shelter Monday evening at Parker Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Cocoa. Residents are transitioning to the larger Wickham Senior Center, which will serve as the primary shelter moving forward.

Emotional Support: Disaster Mental Health volunteers are helping residents cope with the stress, uncertainty and emotional toll of flooding and displacement.

Damage Assessment: As floodwaters recede and neighborhoods become accessible, Red Cross teams will begin surveying impacted areas to identify unmet needs and guide recovery efforts.

Emergency Supplies: In the coming days, volunteers will distribute essential relief supplies to help families begin cleaning up and recovering.

Preparing for Additional Flooding: With the St. Johns River expected to continue rising over the next 24–48 hours, Red Cross teams are coordinating with emergency management officials and preparing to respond to additional sheltering and relief needs.

Looking Ahead

According to preliminary disaster reports, hundreds of Brevard County residents may be facing circumstances like Judith’s, with floodwaters damaging homes, destroying belongings and leaving families uncertain about what comes next.

While the rain has subsided, the threat is far from over. Rising levels along the St. Johns River could bring additional flooding to homes and communities in the coming days, potentially increasing the number of families needing assistance.

As the full extent of the devastation becomes clearer, the Red Cross is preparing to meet both immediate needs and the challenges of recovery. For families like Judith’s, recovery will not happen overnight. Many face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives after losing their homes, belongings and sense of security.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Red Cross can be there when families need us most, providing a safe place to sleep, a warm meal, a compassionate ear and the essential supplies needed to begin recovery.