Historic Rain Floods Florida's Treasure Coast
Rainfall of up to 24 inches submerged neighborhoods and roads across several counties, prompting a state of emergency for seven counties.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Severe Weather
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Torrential rain beginning Sunday, November 1, dropped up to 13 inches of water in parts of St. Lucie and Indian River counties and up to 24 inches near Malabar in Brevard County. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for seven counties on Monday.
Why it matters
The National Weather Service described the rainfall as a 500- to 1,000-year event, indicating an exceptionally rare level of precipitation. Residents across Florida's Treasure Coast face flooded roads, submerged vehicles and the disruption that comes with a state-level emergency declaration.
Measured flood depths reached 13 inches in St. Lucie and Indian River counties and 24 inches near Malabar in Brevard County, which the National Weather Service classified as a 500- to 1,000-year rainfall event. Official totals for property damage and casualties have not been reported in the available data.
The players
Ron DeSantis
Governor of Florida, who declared a state of emergency for seven counties after the historic rainfall.
National Weather Service
The federal agency that characterized the rainfall as a 500- to 1,000-year event.
The details
Rain turned Florida roads into rivers and submerged cars across the Treasure Coast, and a video purportedly showing a shark swimming through a flooded Fort Pierce street at the 25th Street and Midway intersection has racked up millions of views. Experts assessed a similar viral video from Hurricane Ian in 2022 as likely showing a juvenile bull shark.
Timeline
Sunday, November 1: Torrential rain began across the Treasure Coast.
Monday, November 2: Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for seven counties.
2022: Hurricane Ian produced a similar shark-in-floodwater video that went viral.
Seasonal Patterns
The flooding recalls Hurricane Ian in 2022, when a similar video of a shark in floodwaters went viral from Fort Myers. The 500- to 1,000-year rainfall classification places this event among the rarest precipitation totals the National Weather Service has characterized for the region.
Residents in the seven counties under the state of emergency should follow official guidance and avoid driving through flooded roadways, where submerged vehicles and hidden water depths pose serious risk. Check with local emergency management offices for verified evacuation routes and recovery resources.
The takeaway
Flooding of this depth can make roads impassable within minutes, so turning around and avoiding floodwater is the safest choice. Staying informed through official county and state emergency channels helps households respond quickly as conditions change.
Further reading
For more on rare storm events, see Severe Weather coverage across Florida.
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