🛑 Flooded, Forgotten & Fed Up: Daytona’s Black Neighborhoods Deserve Better

Let’s get into some raw truth. This ain’t just another blog—it’s a call-out and a wake-up for Daytona Beach, Florida.

We talk about America being the land of opportunity—but what happens when you’re Black in Daytona, and your neighborhood floods more than the rest of the city? Let’s bring out the red lights. Shine them on Jean Street, Center Street, and every other block neglected for 30–40 years. Let’s expose the hypocrisy—special treatment for elites, silence for working families. The Root of the Problem: Infrastructure Disrespect Black areas in Daytona flood faster because they sit in low-lying zones—the notorious “bowl” effect. Midtown, Nova Canal, and Orange Avenue are prime examples . Flash floods overwhelm pipes and pumps. In October 2024, Hurricane Milton dropped over 15 inches of rain—overwhelming storm systems and dumping saltwater from high tides . Still, nothing changes. Jean Street pipes? 30–40 years old—they’ve never been replaced. Roads above ground? Repaved time and time again. That’s not efficiency—it’s optics. Real People, Real Damage In November 2021, 8–10 inches of rain sank Midtown—Jean, Keech, Carolina, Orange Avenue—leaving homes, cars, even a police substation underwater . One resident said: “It floods all the way up to our front and back doors… it stays flooded for days.” . Tyrone Benford of Daytona Gardens watched waist-high water cut power, trap elders, and halt daily life. Firefighters came—but police and officials stayed away for days . Business owners paid with lawsuits and lost customers—no help, just red tape . Fixing It Saves Money—and Lives Daytona just secured $3 million from Congress to fund a USACE flood mitigation study . This covers a 2.1-square-mile area with ~8,000 residents and $80 million in chronic flood damage . Volusia also launched a half-cent sales tax to upgrade stormwater systems—designed with three-phase, $44 million pipe and drainage improvements . But why wait? More heavy rains visit every year—DeLand saw over 70 inches in 2024, far above historic averages  . Stop the Flashy Over the Functional Why repave tourist streets that look good but flood others? Fixing pipes first means fewer emergency rescues, less FEMA disaster funds, and fewer homes ruined. It’s cheaper to repair the foundation than to clean up after every storm. Neglect is Violence Daytona Beach is 51% White, 32% Black, with over 72,600 residents—23,600 of them Black Floridians . That means tens of thousands living under threat—floods, ruined homes, disrupted lives. When streets are broken, pipes fail, trust disappears. Fixing roads is one step. Fixing faith? That comes with infrastructure that works for everyone. We’re Done Waiting You want less crime? Begin with care and basic services. When people see their streets fixed and respected, they treat them with pride. Give action—get reaction. We’re tired of being ignored in press conferences and virtual pledges. This is real life: homes destroyed. Memories lost. Lives paused. Let’s Move Forward • Fix the water pipes and drainage systems underneath Jean, Center, and other Black neighborhoods. • Repurpose road budgets to prioritize neglected streets. • Back the sales tax and federal study with real progress—no more delays. • Hold leaders accountable when they don’t show up or deliver. Let’s make Daytona Beach great—for all of us.