Florida man stranded on sailboat with two dogs after losing home in flash floods: 'Living nightmare'
Marcus manages the day-to-day editorial workflow across all brands, coordinating coverage assignments and ensuring editorial standards are met. He previously served as city editor at the Pioneer Press and holds a degree in Political Science from Carleton College.
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A Brevard County man is living on a 30-foot sailboat on the Indian River with his two dogs after flash floods in Palm Bay destroyed his mobile home and vehicles. It’s all he has left after the 1 in 1,000 year storm hit Central Florida.Palm Bay flood damageJoseph Gardiner Jr. lost his home and all of his cars to recent flash flooding in Palm Bay. With nowhere else to go, he moved onto a boat anchored offshore along U.S. 1.The sailboat has no working generator, leaving Gardiner without power at night or a way to cook meals. During daylight hours, a single solar panel provides just enough electricity to charge his phone.Indian River sailboat strandingIt remains unclear when he will be able to untangle his anchor from submerged debris or fix the disabled motor to bring the vessel closer to the shoreline.Stranded dogs on waterGardiner’s father died just weeks before the flash floods struck the area. The two dogs belonged to his father and served as his closest companions during his final da