TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The City of Tampa acknowledged that while it can enhance storm water systems, it cannot completely prevent flooding. City officials are updating their storm response procedures.
This year, the City of Tampa reported clearing hundreds of tons of debris from piles, ditches, and ponds. Officials mentioned that crews are working six days a week on maintenance and are revising storm response protocols, such as deploying generators to pump out water before storms hit.
But will that be enough? Mayor Jane Castor said the biggest threat is extreme rain events.
“The generators are placed in various locations around the city, although not everywhere,” Castor explained. “These systems have their limits, and with certain amounts of rain, flooding will occur.”
In talking about flood resilience Tuesday, city leaders mentioned the success stories of projects they said reduced flooding in areas like Henderson and Dale Mabry, Lake Roberta in Southeast Seminole Heights, and the Cypress Street outfall.
“We can improve, but we cannot prevent,” said the event moderator.
An upcoming project would raise the seawall in Palmetto Beach.
“Raising the seawall is desperately needed,” said Brian Maligno who lives in Palmetto Beach. He said he is looking forward to the city’s plans.
“It gets flooded in the blink of an eye,” Maligno said. “And it’s also just too low. It needs to be higher to contain that once in a while Helene-type storm.”
There are more projects in the works, and Mayor Castor said they are being done with residents in mind.
“We’re really out there doing all that we can to ensure that our community stays safe,” Castor said.
The city is also looking to start a program where residents can adopt a drain in their neighborhood to help keep an eye on how clean it is or to report to officials if something is put in the drain that shouldn’t be.
For more information on the city’s plans, click here.
