CLERMONT, Fla. — The good news for the Emerald Lakes community is that more than 150 residents have been able to return to their homes in the past few weeks after flooding from Hurricane Helene.

The bad news, however, is that 40 homeowners are still being advised not to return because floodwaters remain high, and most services are still turned off. 

What You Need To Know

  • Floodwaters from hurricane Milton forced residents out of Clermont's Emerald Lakes Mobile Home Park more than three weeks ago

  • Some 40 homeowners say they have not been able to return home because of the flooding
  • Pumps have been running 24 hours a day helping to move floodwaters out of the streets and away from homes

Floodwaters from Hurricane Milton forced everyone out of the community three weeks ago.

Pumps have been running 24 hours a day, and sandbags set up by residents are helping to keep the water at bay.

For weeks, Ken Cook and other residents have been walking through high waters with rubber boots to make sure the pumps remain operational.

“You know right now on this side by the office we have lowered the water by a foot from where we sandbagged down here,” he said.

Cook has lived in the boating community — which is located near the Green Swamp Wilderness — for more than 20 years.

He said it can be tiring to keep refueling pumps that have been running 24 hours a day for weeks.

“Oh yeah, it gets old,” said Cook, who is also president of the board of directors for the development and is unable to return to his home. 

All services are shut off, and he said it’s become a waiting game.

“We are just waiting for the water to go down," Cook said. "It gets down low enough, we can get the power turned back on and get back into our homes."

One spot that remains seriously flooded in Emerald Lakes is along the peninsula — a narrow piece of land where some 40 homeowners are dealing with knee deep water in the street.

Clermont Fire Chief David Ezell’s team has been assisting residents for weeks, setting up a comfort station and providing laundry and shower services for those in need. 

Ezell said he is hoping that they have seen the worst of the flooding, most of which is still coming from nearby lakes.

“Based on what we’re seeing with the lake levels, Lake Minnehaha, we are not seeing rising levels," he said. "However, we’re not seeing significant drops, so we just have to give this time."

Cook is hoping those who live on the peninsula, including himself, will be able to return to their homes within a few weeks.

“Just trying to make sure everyone is safe," he said. "I just like coming over and checking on everybody’s property."