Pensacola downpour strands motorists

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Rain began falling along the Gulf Coast on June 8.

In many cases across Pensacola on June 9, motorists saw more water than asphalt along the roads.

Some took a chance driving through it.

LeRoy Bonifay, 90, and his grandson found themselves stranded when they turned onto a flooded Airport Boulevard.

"We thought the water was relatively shallow in the middle of the road. So we drove to the middle but it was deeper than we thought and washed up over my hood," Bonifay said.

Bonifay says they were immediately stuck with nowhere to go when water flooded the engine, drowning it out. He said two other cars were also stalled there. The water rose higher and higher.

"It got to the window level of the door," he said.

Bonifay says two bystanders helped get them get to safety.

Many who were visiting the city ended up unable to leave because numerous streets were closed.

Jon Pence made a trip from Brewton in his new car. He says the flooding shocked him.

"We didn't think it would be raining this hard when we came to Pensacola. The water is deep here, very deep," said Pence.

Bonifay says although his brand new car may be ruined, he's glad no one was hurt.

"I've never seen it get this high here before. It's tough but we'll make it out alright," Bonifay said.

Escambia County was under a local state of emergency with the Emergency Operations Center operating at full activation Saturday. Several shelters have opened for those in need.

The National Weather service predicts another 12-15 inches of rain between now and midnight Sunday, bringing the projected total rainfall for the vent to between 20 and 30 inches.

Numerous reports of road closures have come from the Florida Highway Patrol due to water on the roadways.