Rising St. Johns River levels prompt sandbag sites, flood warnings in Volusia County

The St. Johns River is rising in Volusia County, and while the area has not seen the heavy rainfall that other parts of Central Florida have experienced, water is now making its way north.On Wednesday, Gov. DeSantis expanded the state of emergency declaration to include Volusia, as well as Lake and Seminole counties.Near Lake Beresford in DeLand — which is connected to the St. Johns River — water has already crept well beyond its normal shoreline onto nearby properties. Volusia County officials say the impact will be felt most toward the end of the week, and they are urging residents to begin making preparations now.Brian Quilling, who owns property near Hontoon Island, says his family is already taking steps to protect their land.“Just a little things to prepare,” said Quilling. “You start doing some stuff like get your sandbags ready. I thought about digging a — just putting a big levee all the way around the property.”Quilling says repeated flooding from hurricanes in recent years h