TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa city leaders were in South Tampa Monday, discussing flooding and drainage concerns.
The latest community gathering aimed to assure locals that the city is making every effort to tackle the issues of aging infrastructure and streets prone to frequent flooding.
Mayor Jane Castor continued her message of managing expectations.
She mentioned, “City officials are doing their utmost, but the stormwater system has its capacity.” She emphasized, “There is only so much it can manage. If the rain is persistent and intense, the system will eventually be overburdened.”
That was the main message from Castor at Monday night’s flood meeting in South Tampa.
While a thunderstorm soaked the area, city officials shared insights from the previous hurricane season, the current measures being implemented, and the steps the city is taking to progress.
“It took these two storms to show us that we were not prepared even a little,” South Tampa resident Anneliese Meier said. “I think we still would’ve flooded, I don’t think we would’ve flooded in some places, so we’re playing catch up here.”
The mayor said it takes a village and the city needs the community’s participation to best serve residents.
But what exactly does that look like?
“Not blowing things down the storm drains, if you see something that is obstructing the storm drain and you can get it out, get it out,” Castor said. “If you see an issue, call the city and report it so we can come out and address it.”
This comes as the city moves forward with the South Howard flood mitigation project, something some business owners have been pushing back on.
Steve Michelini, who represents a number of businesses in the South Howard area, said, “I think a lot of these projects, especially the one on South Howard, need to be reevaluated once they get the drainage systems cleaned out and evaluated.”
But Castor said, it’s short-term pain for long-term gain.
“Putting our head in the sand and ignoring the flooding issues along South Howard is not going to be of value to anyone,” she said. “Stormwater systems, putting them in is disruptive to neighborhoods, but the long term value comes to the residents who have been flooded and the businesses that have been flooded as well.”
