Peace River rises in DeSoto County as campers leave

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Floodwaters from the Peace River are affecting some areas of DeSoto County, and people near the river are leaving ahead of a forecast crest.The Peace River Campground sits next to the river. For campground operator Susan Ryburn, this is not the first flood.Ryburn said the ground will be saturated at the crest. She said it will be “not as bad as what we had a couple years ago.”The National Weather Service shows the Peace River could crest in about 36 hours at about 16.4 feet.Flooding is minor now, but the river is expected to reach major flood stage. Major flood stage could affect nearby homes and businesses.Several DeSoto County roads underwater as river flood warnings continueThe last time Ryburn saw flooding like this was in 2022.“We had to close and rebuild, redo all of the facilities. Everything was gone,” she said.This time, Ryburn said people are leaving early. Most of the campground is empty.“Really being proactive, just in case, you don’t know,” she