PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — When Jennifer and Angela Haywood moved to their Pasco County residence ten years in the past, they didn’t know they have been shopping for waterfront property.
Nonetheless, most of the time currently, their residence has been partially surrounded by water.
“That’s the worst it’s ever been,” Angela stated Monday as she surveyed her yard. “By lots.”
WATCH: Early into hurricane season, Pasco County subdivision partially flooded once more
Early into hurricane season, Pasco County subdivision partially flooded once more
The water that partially surrounds her residence, which is positioned north of Zephyrhills on Phelps Highway off Fort King Highway, shouldn’t be there.
As Hurricane Milton swept by means of final October, flooding adopted. It inundated their yard, a number of houses, and Phelps Highway, the highway they use to entry their residence.
That flooding lastly dried up, for probably the most half, simply a few weeks in the past.
“All of the water was gone apart from our entry highway,” Angela stated.
Days in the past, nevertheless, that modified. Water began dashing again into the subdivision even earlier than rain fell there particularly.
“I imply, I don’t know tips on how to say it. It’s disheartening. It’s irritating,” Angela stated.
WFTS
The Haywoods are actually greater than frightened. A hurricane, tropical storm, and even heavy downpour this wet season would possibly flood their residence this time round.
“This isn’t simply my story, proper?” Jennifer stated. “Like you will have veterans out right here, like you will have individuals — onerous working individuals out right here.”
In January, ABC Motion Information viewers requested county leaders for an answer to repair this drainage drawback. Nonetheless, little has modified.
“I’ve been emailing county commissioners, senators, DeSantis, FEMA, SWFWMD, EPA — I simply get pushed round between businesses, and nothing occurs,” Angela stated.
In an e mail, a spokesperson for Pasco County authorities stated the flooding is on personal property, so there’s little the county can do to assist.
Nonetheless, the county stated it’s making progress within the Zephyrhills space as an entire.
“Pasco County Public Works has performed in depth upkeep on Zephyr Creek to boost water conveyance and mitigate flooding. We’ve additionally inspected surrounding county stormwater infrastructure—together with pipes, swales, and different property—to verify they’re in optimum working situation,” the county spokesperson wrote.
“Wanting forward, the Zephyr Creek Regional Flood Abatement Section 1 Development undertaking is about to start in FY2026. This initiative will considerably enhance water circulation and set up a devoted outfall for floodwaters, additional strengthening the world’s flood resilience,” the spokesperson continued.
For Angela and Jennifer, these updates present little consolation or aid.
“The county has no drawback taking my taxes or my $12,500 affect charges, which is ok, as a result of you will have colleges, you will have roads, you will have the whole lot, however the place are my affect charges, as a result of we’re barely hanging on again right here,” Jennifer stated.
