HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County is hosting several meetings to gather information from residents and businesses about the flood impact of hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. Community input is critical to a study being conducted by a consultant to explore potential flood mitigation and resiliency strategies. 

Some neighbors in the Bay Crest community are still not back in their homes after hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded them out. They say they are concerned about what this next storm season will bring.

Artist Glenda Partee says there has been a delay with contractors repairing the damage. Since the storm, she has been staying in hotels after evacuating from Flood Zone A.

“Never did I think in my whole life that at 77, I would be going through this much turmoil and dealing with homelessness,” said Partee.

As she sorts through her paintings and other items damaged in the flood, she is concerned about it happening again.

“They could put up some barriers to keep the water from washing over us, but I don’t know what you could do with building codes to protect us from the water once it’s here,” she said.

Hillsborough County is addressing concerns during meetings for its post-hurricane stormwater assessment. In December, the engineering firm Black and Veatch was contracted to perform a study on stormwater management and flood protection measures after back-to-back hurricanes. Hillsborough Commissioner Harry Cohen indicates that the final report is forthcoming. 

“We have been getting an update on their work, but we have not seen their conclusions. I think these public outreach meetings are going to be an important component, and there is a lot they will be coming back to us with in terms of maintenance and infrastructure investment,” said Cohen.

Partee lives three blocks from the bay.

“For us in Bay Crest, I don’t know. It’s just low. We dodged a bullet for years, but with climate change, they are just coming,” she said.

She states that there are many seniors in her community and that the rebuilding process has been particularly challenging for them.

“It’s a combination of things — since my husband died, I don’t have enough support down here,” said Partee.

After a decade in the area, Partee says she is now rebuilding to sell her home.

The county will host eight public meetings starting next Tuesday:
 

April Meetings

• District 1 - Town 'N Country / Pinecrest Area 6:30 p.m., April 15
  Pierce Middle School, 5511 N. Hesperides St., Tampa, FL 33614
  
  
• District 3 - Progress Village / Riverview 6:30 p.m., April 22
  Riverview Library, 9951 Balm Riverview Rd., Riverview, FL 33569
  
  
• District 2 - Brushy Creek 6 p.m., April 23
  Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa, FL 33618
  
  
• District 4 - Plant City 5:30 p.m., April 29
  Plant City High School cafeteria, 1 Raider Pl., Plant City, FL 33563
   

May Meetings

• District 1 - South Tampa 6:30 p.m., May 7
  Jan Kaminis Platt Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa, FL 33611
  
  
• District 3 - University Area: 6 p.m,. May 12
  UACDC, 14013 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33613
  
  
• District 2 - Northdale 5:30 p.m., May 15
  Jimmie Keel Public Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa, FL 33618
  
  
• District 4 - South County 6 p.m., May 19
  Lennard High School, 2342 E. Shell Point Rd., Ruskin, FL 33570
   

For more information, contact Public Works Customer Service at (813)-635-5400 or PWCustomerResolution@HCFL.gov.