Eustis, FL, Firefighters Evacuate Neighborhood after Bridge Collapses

Days after 19 inches of rain fell in Eustis, firefighters evacuated 21 homes as a bridge partially collapsed.

Nov. 1, 2025

3 min read

James Wilkins
Orlando Sentinel
(TNS)

A Eustis bridge, whose foundation was damaged by floodwaters earlier in the week, partially collapsed Thursday evening, forcing the evacuation of 21 homes in the neighborhood.

A portion of the bridge, located in the Spring Ridge Estates neighborhood just off DeLand Road, crumbled apart following days of flooding after a massive storm on Sunday dropped more than 19 inches of rain on the city.

The bridge collapse put residents from 21 homes along Creek Run Lane, the only access route for residents in that area, under mandatory evacuation orders.

Erosion from floodwaters undermined the foundation of the bridge and one side of the structure had failed by approximately 6 p.m. Thursday, according to a statement released by the city. The evacuation was completed by 12:30 a.m. Friday.

The bridge collapsed more early Friday morning, officials said, making the roadway impassable and closing Creek Run Lane “for the foreseeable future.”

Twelve of the displaced families have been temporarily relocated to local hotels, the city said, though it wasn’t clear where the other nine were staying.

The slow moving storm stalled over west Central Florida, washing out several main roads and forcing emergency crews to assess the damage in the dark.

Eustis Fire Chief Mike Swanson called the Sunday deluge a “high-impact weather event” and acknowledged that it continues to impact the city days later.

“All this water is still running toward low-lying areas, and as long as it keeps moving, we will continue to see undermined structures and utilities,” he said in a statement. “Fortunately, we were able to respond quickly and get the residents to safety.”

Currently, Swanson said, city crews are working to shore up remaining portions of the bridge while long-term repair plans are developed.

City officials are also continuing to evaluate other facilities that could have been harmed by the storm.

“We remain committed to protecting our community from ongoing erosion risks and will continue to monitor conditions throughout the city,” he said.

Because the bridge is privately owned and maintained by the Spring Ridge Estates Homeowners Association, city staff are coordinating with HOA representatives, Lake County Emergency Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Eustis Public Works to figure out plans for the damaged structure.

Mount Dora also experienced heavy rainfall and flooding, with over 17 inches of rain in some areas.

Wolf Branch Road between Britt and Round Lake roads in Mount Dora was closed Tuesday from the heavy downpours. So was Donnelly Street, one of the main thoroughfares into historic downtown Mount Dora, which completely collapsed between Limit Avenue and U.S. Highway 441.

A city spokeswoman said Monday that it could take up to a year for Donnelly to be fully restored. In the coming weeks, the city will construct a temporary thoroughfare to allow traffic.

Other roads that were closed because of washouts included Old Eustis Road, between Donnelly Street and Dogwood Circle; U.S. 441, between Limit Avenue and Bristol Lake Road; Donnelley Street, between Pine Avenue and the Waterman Village entrance at Manorside Drive.

Contact James Wilkins at [email protected] or 407-754-4980.