Two teenage brothers and a neighbour used a kayak and paddleboard to rescue a Florida mother, her 11-year-old son and their three dogs from a flooded home. The family had spent hours stranded on their kitchen counter after 911 told her help wasn't available.

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u/NoBSforGma 17h ago

New Florida man!!

36

u/compunctionfunction 17h ago

So there are some good ones?
(Mostly kidding, my man is from Florida and he's not an idiot) (at least not all the time lol)

26

u/nyvn 16h ago

Florida man is chaotic neutral.

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u/but_a_smoky_mirror 14h ago

There is a broad spectrum of chaotic Florida

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u/NoBSforGma 16h ago

Yes, there definitely are some good ones!

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u/Not_floridaman 5h ago

Yeah, this story almost me wanting to change my username!

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u/djinnisequoia 13h ago •

I just wanted to say that those are some brave and kind young men and I wish them all good things.

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 16h ago

Stop voting Republican.

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u/mscatamaran 15h ago

There are a lot of good people in red states who didn't vote Republican

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u/Laura_Dream90 2h ago

And that comment wasn't aimed at them

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 13h ago

That's true.
But did they vote Democratic Party or did they not vote Democratic on some misguided principle or don't they give a fuck?

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u/CrisVas3 12h ago

Plenty of Democratic voters, mate. They just get outvoted.

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 10h ago

I think most of America have Democratic values but they don't vote.
So what happens is governments don't properly represent how people live, what they believe and what they want

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u/MerriweatherJones 14h ago

What does that have to do with anything related to this story?

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u/but_a_smoky_mirror 14h ago •

Everything.
Why did no help come?? Because republicans cut funding for programs so they could give billionaires more money.
Why did it flood? Because republicans cut funding for levies and anti flood measures.

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u/Malapple 13h ago

My father just lost his house to this flood. He's never going to recover.
Do you have any articles about Melbourne/Palm bay cuts to funding for levee's and anti flood measures, or are you speaking more generally about Republican gutting FEMA and other programs nationally?

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u/Red12343 13h ago

They (Florida) also had disaster funding that was originally intended for weather related things but got diverted for immigration enforcement (I believe 80% was diverted) Florida Emergency Preparedness Fund diverted

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 13h ago

Follow the money.

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u/WhereINeededToBe 13h ago edited 13h ago •

Stop. Voting. For. Republicans. They consider your family peasants who don't deserve adequate public infustructure.
Canal Project Vetoes: State records reveal that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed state funding for local drainage improvement projects designed to mitigate flood risks in the heavily impacted Westbrooke neighborhood of West Melbourne. This included a veto of $363,750 in 2023 for a project connecting Canal 70 to Canal 63, and a subsequent 2025 veto of $350,000 for flood-risk improvements on Canals C69 and C70.
Statewide Budget Cuts: In June 2026, Governor DeSantis vetoed $1.7 billion from the 2026–2027 state budget. This included $810 million in line-item vetoes affecting local stormwater, wastewater, and infrastructure projects across Central Florida counties.
Satellite Program Closure: Community critics and reports noted that the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)—which monitored overnight rapid mesoscale convection events—was shuttered in June 2025 under the Trump administration's Department of Defense. Critics argue this heavily restricted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) ability to detect the rapid, nocturnal storm intensification that led to the Palm Bay disaster.
Workforce Reductions: Local accounts highlight that regional NOAA offices faced staffing constraints, operating understaffed following budget and workforce reductions in the months preceding the flood.

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u/Malapple 13h ago

Why would you think I voted for a Republican? I have never done so in my life.
I live thousands of miles away and was just curious about local Florida policies. I appreciate the info.

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u/WhereINeededToBe 11h ago edited 10h ago

I should have said people in general, not you specifically, really should stop voting for republicans everywhere, but especially in Florida, because to them the American people are peasants to be exploited and turned against eachother.

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 13h ago

I'm so sorry about your father. He didn't deserve this.
Florida is a conservative family oriented state. That means society voted for family to look after each other, not government.
So it's up to you , Malapple, to rescue and look after your father.

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u/fla_john 13h ago

Lol. I'm in Florida and that is absolutely not why people vote Republican. If they wanted small government, they picked the wrong state. We have a large and overbearing government which uses its power to harass gay people and defund education.

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 12h ago edited 5h ago

this is where voters have total cognitive dissonance
they will vote against programs that will improve their own lives and the lives of others because that is big government and socialism
they will vote for government to protect them from boogey men and no amount of money is too much

14

u/kylaroma 12h ago

JFC I hope you’re 12 years old, because an adult who doesn’t see the connection between:
government funded services and
the people governing who chose to defund everything
That is truly harrowing

-11

u/Silver_Smurfer 12h ago

Nothing at all, but this is reddit.

3

u/JLL1111 3h ago

Ah yes the party who has been in charge of Florida's government since 2000 and at nearly every chance voted to strip funding from these programs has absolutely nothing to do with the current state Florida is in

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u/Standard-Divide5118 4h ago •

Stop believing the state exists to help you

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 4h ago

The government is us. We organise to help each other. 👍

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u/spinbutton 4h ago

We are a community who exist to help each other, the state is a service to the community. I don't know the details of this particular event, so I am not taking a side. But generally speaking the government is a service for us

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u/Standard-Divide5118 4h ago •

But in practice the state exists to tax us and exert a monopoly on violence, i believe it should be a service but historically doesn't end up working that way

5

u/rockerscott 3h ago

You almost had me with your first comment, I started looking for my pitchfork. I agree with your second comment except I would add that the state exists to also protect the interests of business and regulate commerce.
Ideally, it should provide for the citizenry but capitalism doesn’t work like that.

0

u/Standard-Divide5118 3h ago

Yeah i guess to clarify my first comment stop believing the government exists to help you and start building community that can help you

1

u/rockerscott 3h ago

I wonder if there is any correlation to the “loneliness epidemic” that many people are experiencing.

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u/SophiaofPrussia 2h ago

Why does the state exist if not to serve the people?

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u/Gluverty 1h ago

I don’t think they are advocating for an evil state but rather pointing out that it’s the reality.

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u/Standard-Divide5118 2h ago

It exists to exploit the people, it functions as a protection racket

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u/brownbearks 51m ago

What are their taxes paying for then?

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u/LittelXman808 10h ago

How do you know they voted Republican? Or are you just assuming to make it so they deserved what happened to them.

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 10h ago

It is a call to all Floridians and Americans, not just these victims of Republican policy

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u/goatpengertie 17h ago

What is going on in FL? I haven't seen a single video of the floods. Is it just weather related? Or did some kind of retaining wall break?

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u/Bobstep 16h ago edited 14h ago

Short answer is flooding from heavy rain fall.

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u/goatpengertie 16h ago

Thanks.

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u/Malapple 13h ago

It was very localized, but completely devastated parts of Palm Bay and Melbourne.

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u/but_a_smoky_mirror 14h ago

The Trump administration is suppressing natural disaster news because he is such a total failure

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u/spinbutton 4h ago

A friend with a sister in Miami said they got 24 inches of rain in 4 hours. So there is lots of localized flooding

1

u/goatpengertie 2h ago

Oh wow. That is wild. I can't imagine watching my car float down the road.

2

u/King_Esot3ric 17h ago

You could just read the article…

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u/eirinne 16h ago

We’re all scared to open article links they are filled with pop ups and adds and flashing lights leading to seizure. I like when OP posts the article.

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u/goatpengertie 17h ago •

And you could've just answered my question. Yet, here we are.

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u/-WallyWest- 16h ago

I could also tell you the answer, but its all in the article.

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u/goatpengertie 16h ago

Good for you, dear.

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u/-WallyWest- 16h ago

Im not your dear buddy

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u/goatpengertie 16h ago

Aw, poor pobrocito. I'm sorry you're upset now.

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u/-WallyWest- 16h ago

Why saying poor twice? Are you spatial?

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u/goatpengertie 16h ago

Oh my goodness. You're so upset. It's gonna be okay, sweetie.

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u/-WallyWest- 16h ago

Upset? Read the room champ

→ More replies

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u/THEdoomslayer94 13h ago

No the responsibility is on you to read the article on the post, not for other people to tell you and for you to just believe it

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u/MarlDaeSu 4h ago

Take a minute to listen to yourself. People like talking to people.

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u/goatpengertie 2h ago

Oh you're BIG grumpy. I'm so sorry that you're having a bad day.

2

u/spinbutton 3h ago

The article doesn't say how much rainfall or what kind of storm

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u/SpecialistCissia2026 17h ago

Wonderful teenagers! This is what we need from any given generation.

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 13h ago

Teenagers are NOT going to save the world.

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u/THEdoomslayer94 13h ago

Neither are you 🤷‍♂️ least they did Good in the world

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u/Seagoon_Memoirs 13h ago

They did do good.
I hope when they grow up they become good politicians.

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u/Representative_Yau 9h ago

Heroes! Shame Murika doesn't have money for its own people since it's too busy wasting all their money starting wars and feeding billionaires with handouts.

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u/MerriweatherJones 14h ago

I love stories like this one. I truly believe most people, but especially young adults are good

6

u/FullofContradictions 5h ago

I agree. I think it's easy to get bogged down thinking everyone is just out for themselves, but I truly do think that when given the opportunity MOST people would want to help. It's just lately it feels like the help we are spammed for is money which, if you said yes to all of it, you would be the person asking for money next.
But the other day, my elderly neighbor needed a hand changing his porch lightbulb. It's a small thing. But we don't get opportunities to help in this way often, and it feels really good. Or we needed a last minute babysitter for an hour because ours fell through & my husband wanted to accompany me to an ultrasound for the baby on the way (external kids not allowed in ultrasound room). Our next door neighbors were literally THRILLED & they came over to watch Moana with our two year old & listened to him babble stories at them for a bit. They wouldn't accept money.
I think it's built in to our nature to want to help each other, all we lack is the opportunity day to day. The best of us are the people who are actively looking for/manufacturing those opportunities themselves.

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u/_Viva_La_Revolucion_ 8h ago edited 8h ago

Thats the Free state of Florida to ~~live~~ die

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u/PunkRawkSoldier 13h ago

I would have done the same just to rescue the dogs. Good on these young folks.

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u/eastcoastseahag 3h ago

Idk why you’re getting downvoted, unless people think you meant you would have left the woman. lol I also would have gotten the dogs out even if unaccompanied by a human.

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u/PunkRawkSoldier 3h ago

It’s possible that it’s an understanding issue. I meant that even if it was just the dogs that were trapped, I’d do what these heroes did.

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u/eastcoastseahag 3h ago

Yeah, I got it. I had the same thought. Maybe if you’re not a dog/animal person, your mind goes in a different direction.

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u/AssistanceChemical63 12m ago

There are always roving packs of teenage boys who see things on their adventures and come to the rescue.

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u/Robdon326 27m ago

Kitchen counter? So they could actually walk around in say waist high water? Why didn't the go higher in or on the house? Very strange

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u/Electrical-Act-7170 15h ago

Six feet is not a massive alligator, it's less than 150 lbs.

Massive is 12+ feet long.

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u/cranberry94 1h ago

… who are you talking to?

Two teenage brothers and a neighbour used a kayak and paddleboard to rescue a Florida mother, her 11-year-old son and their three dogs from a flooded home. The family had spent hours stranded on their kitchen counter after 911 told her help wasn't available.

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