Heavy rains on Monday submerged parts of north Titusville for the third time in seven months, leaving residents frustrated and concerned about their homes. Three inches of rain fell in just 2.5 hours, washing out sections of Singleton Canal and eroding a street above it. Crews worked Tuesday to fill a washed-out canal with dirt, but residents like Crystal Prew say the damage is already done. Prew, who moved to Titusville from West Palm two years ago, said she’s considering selling her home after watching her street flood three times. “I was out here pushing water out of my carport,” she said. “I was afraid it would go into the utility room.”
Titusville City Council member Megan Moscoso acknowledged the growing anxiety among residents, many of whom still bear the trauma of October floods. “After the October floods, a lot of our residents have PTSD,” Moscoso said. “There’s not a lot of faith in our infrastructure.” The city is working on long-term fixes like retention ponds as part of its master plan, but Moscoso stressed that collaboration with Brevard County is essential, as portions of the stormwater system are managed by multiple agencies. “We all have to work as a team,” she said.
Prew, who loves the area but is now questioning her decision to move here, described the constant threat of flooding as a source of anxiety. “It’s sad I can’t live somewhere I enjoy and not have the fear every time it rains,” she said. The city council is set to discuss raising its stormwater service fee at an August public hearing, a move that could fund infrastructure improvements. For now, residents like Prew are left to cope with the aftermath, hoping for solutions that keep pace with the rising waters.