Debary - Flooding (Orlando, New Smyrna Beach, Lake Mary: estate, insurance, gated)

[gdnafghton]

I am looking at a house in a subdivision called Riviera Bella in Debary which is close to the St. Johns River. I am curious about the past flooding in Debary and more specifically if this community may have been impacted. Would appreciate any local feedback. Thanks

[Prichard]

I don't know if the neighborhood you are looking at is a newer one or older one. This makes a huge difference. The newer neighborhoods in DeBary are easily identified by the large and deep stormwater retaining ponds. They are designed to handle large amounts of rainfall. The older neighborhoods are identified by the huge swampy puddles which form in the low spots after any major rain storm. These neighborhoods are potential problem areas. Personally, I wouldn't live anywhere near the St. John's river in DeBary, especially if it's in an older neighborhood.

I had a good friend of mine who lived in one of the newer neighborhoods and owned a fixer-upper about 1/2 mile away from where he lived. The first thing you noticed when you were driving through his neighborhood was the really deep retention pond. It would be difficult for a small child to climb out of this thing if he was playing near it and fell. The fixer-upper that he owned was on a street that always flooded at the low spot between two hills. The house was located on a hill, and as a result the garage was below grade and was a constant source of moisture intrusion into the garage through the concrete wall. What he really needed to do was to pipe the water around the building, but that would have been too costly. The septic drain field was also a big problem because it was uphill from the house.

My advice is when moving to DeBary, buy new homes only, and still be careful!

[christa17]

I live in the debary golf and country club.after living in many places in Fl . this my last refuge before leaving the state.The high crime rates and spanish gangs have not yet come here.

[Lisa_from_Debary]

I live in the Reserve in Debary, no flooding here except around the retention pond at the rear entrance.

I would ask the home owners insurance agents in the area. I am not familiar with your development but I can tell you that during the hurricane season of 2004 but Lake Monroe and the St. John's river rose very high and 1792 got closed off, part of the road erroded away.
It was a mess.

[duckman66]

I've lived off of West Highbanks Rd (near DeBary Elementary - Lake Marie Estates) since last July. It's a nice, quiet older neighborhood. I understand several streets in my neighborhood flooded during the '04 hurricanes. My street occasionally will get puddles after heavy rains, but nothing major. Riviera Bella is right on the St. John's, correct? You might be in a flood plain (thus requiring flood insurance).
As Lisa said, check with insurance agents in the area. (I rent my house, otherwise I'd tell you.)

[DigiRaven]

Originally Posted by gdnafghton

I am looking at a house in a subdivision called Riviera Bella in Debary which is close to the St. Johns River. I am curious about the past flooding in Debary and more specifically if this community may have been impacted. Would appreciate any local feedback. Thanks

I think Debary is very quiet and beautiful. A couple of pockets in debary were flood zones but check out volusia country's website to figure out which area is proned to flooding or not. I think the area you are looking at is not flood proned.

[J. Snyder]

I live in Riviera Bella and have not experienced any flooding in the two years I have lived there. The river banks are very high and they have a great drainage system in place. It is a great community if you like to live in a resort type atmosphere, they are right along the St. Johns River (Very cool for boating) and have a beautiful clubhouse with a big pool, media room and work out facility. Debary is still a small town which is perfect for raising children and still close enough to Lake Mary and Orlando when my wife and I want to have a nice dinner. The community is guard gated which is an extra bonus for me. I highly reccomend the community!!

[duckman66]

Many areas in DeBary that have been flooded by Tropical Storm Fay recently were also flooded four years ago.

[keihn]

Duckman66:

I lived in Debary in the 60s and 70s. One hurricane went over us in 1968 and dropped 11" of rain. I lived on Smyrna Drive and there was no flooding and once it quit raining, it was dry in 2-3 hours. I realize that Debary has changed so much since then, but the old neighborhoods should be o.k.

The wife and I make a trip down every year in October and always go by the old place. Too much has changed and there's no way we could go back. We are presently looking for a reasonable ($300,000 or less) place on New Smyrna Beach; within a block or so of the beach. It appears that the crime has not reached the beach yet. Although, with only 2 ways off the island, maybe it wont get there. That's the only thing I like about the Allegheny Mountains.........no crime! I miss Florida.