JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More heavy rains in north central Florida have forced rivers to flow, causing flooding fears.
Because of the rising waters, Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Columbia and Alachua counties hours before Wednesday's rain started to fall.
Some residents are using boats to get to their homes. Many say the flooding in Columbia County happens regularly.
"Probably every year it rains real bad," Mable Carter said.
Some say it's not often the water gets as high as it is in the area.
"I'm 56. In my lifetime I saw it three times," resident Napoleon Whitfield said.
Several roads in the area are closed in Columbia County.
The director of Columbia County Emergency Management said its monitoring the situation. Director Shayne Morgan said agency doesn't plan on closing any more roads unless the situation gets worse.
Officials said they've been in contact with local fire, EMS and the Health Department.
Homeowners are taking precautions, and gazebo in the area is mostly under water. People who live in the area say all of the rising waters remind them of situations in the past they don't want to relive.
"Now we're nervous that we're going to have that same situation again," resident Fanita Roberts said. "We're used to it being here by the Suwannee River. We're kind of used to it. Sometimes it's a fun time where you can play in the water. Other times it's a scary time because you never know."
There's no word on how long it will take for the waters to recede.