TAMPA, Fla. — Frustration was palpable among residents of the Forest Hills neighborhood on Wednesday night as they gathered to discuss recent flooding that caused significant damage to homes.
Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera and other local officials met with community members to address the issue. The flooding occurred after a failure of backup generators at local pump stations during Hurricane Milton, resulting in historic flooding for an area considered to have “moderate to low risk for flooding” according to Zone-X on the flood map.
During the meeting, Vik Bhide, the City of Tampa’s director of mobility, informed residents that a backup generator at the pump station near Curiosity Creek failed when the power went out during the storm. To make matters worse, a second pump station also encountered the same issue and failed, exacerbating the flooding.
In response, Councilman Viera called for an immediate investigation into the generator malfunctions, expressing his concerns about the system’s reliability. He proposed the formation of a committee to investigate the situation and determine how such failures could be prevented in the future.
While Hillsborough County officials reassured residents that the water has since receded, the damage left behind has many residents demanding more comprehensive solutions.
“1 in 500 chance of flooding”
Though the Forest Hills area is classified as Zone-X, with a minimal risk of flooding, residents experienced unprecedented water levels during Hurricane Milton. Many homeowners, left with significant water damage, are now seeking answers from city officials and exploring options for future flood prevention.
The meeting highlighted both the technical failures of the city’s infrastructure and the growing concern among residents about the adequacy of flood protection in areas previously thought to be low-risk.
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