Flooded popular Clay County restaurant reopens for business after Nicole leaves surprising aftermath

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A preferred Clay County restaurant has reopened Saturday after experiencing flooding from Tropical Storm Nicole.

Whitey’s Fish Camp — a seafood restaurant in Fleming Island that sits proper off Swimming Pen Creek — isn’t any stranger to flooding. The managers advised News4JAX that though they did put together for Nicole’s arrival, they didn’t put together as a lot as they did for Hurricane Ian and realized that wasn’t the only option.

In response to Clay County emergency administration officers, the county acquired about two-and-a-half inches of rain from the storm, which prompted extreme flooding in numerous areas reminiscent of Inexperienced Cove Springs, Docs Lake and Orange Park.

The tiki bar was flooded, and water coated the docks and car parking zone together with the skin deck.

Together with many different residents, Whitey’s Fish Camp managers aren’t the one ones to underestimate Nicole’s influence.

“Positively not as ready as we have been for Ian as a result of it was only a tropical storm. However all of our docks have been submerged. We skilled increased flooding with Nicole than we did in Ian, so it nearly bought to our higher eating deck as nicely. We’re very stunned,” Supervisor Danielle Lawley stated.

Regardless of the stunning aftermath, the restaurant didn’t maintain main injury. The floodwaters receded in time for the restaurant to reopen on Saturday, which was a aid for purchasers and musicians who’ve been coming to Whitey’s for years.

“We grew up with this institution, and we’re joyful to have it again up and operating. We adore it,” stated Mike Cook dinner, a musician at Whitey’s.

Though Nicole caught the restaurant off guard, Lawley stated they are going to be extra precautious the subsequent time a storm comes round.

“Even when it’s a storm, we’re going to be ready,” Lawley stated.

Different areas of Clay County have been additionally returning again to regular as floodwaters began to recede. Clay County residents have been out-and-about in Spring Park in Inexperienced Cove Springs on Saturday, which wasn’t the case Thursday as a result of the world was fully flooded.

Plenty of residents have been stunned by Nicole’s influence because it was a tropical storm. They stated they didn’t anticipate a storm of that magnitude to trigger a lot havoc.

“River flooding is frequent, however many didn’t suppose a Nicole would pack this energy,” Derrick Surrat stated. “I believed we have been simply going to get rain and wind however that’s mom nature.”

News4JAX Insiders additionally despatched in pictures of the flooding exhibiting water pouring over sidewalks and flooding boat ramps.

On Friday night time, issues began to get again to regular because the neighborhood loved meals vehicles within the park.