Flooding problems in Tampa
After two days of flooding on many of Tampa’s busiest streets, authorities are now offering an explanation for the causes.
TAMPA, Florida. – Motorists and homeowners in Tampa hoped for relief Thursday after two days of torrential rain left roads flooded and impassable.
On Wednesday, parts of Tampa received more than three inches of rain in less than an hour for the second day in a row.
“In certain parts of the city, we’ve had over 3 inches, 3.5 inches in an hour. That type of rain would overwhelm any of our stormwater systems,” said Vik Bhide, Tampa Mobility Director, who spoke to Tampa City Council members during Thursday’s meeting. “Our stormwater systems are not designed to handle that type of rain. So when it rains like that, you usually get flooding on the streets, which usually clears up within a couple of hours.”
Flooding on Wednesday in the area of MacDill Ave. and Lemon St. in Tampa
Motorists in South Tampa, Town ‘n County, West Tampa and downtown all contended with flooded roads during the evening rush hour. Tampa Fire Rescue said emergency crews were called to “multiple flood-related incidents” throughout the city.
A day later, some streets still hadn’t fully drained and city workers were cleaning drains and ditches in preparation for future storms.
Bhide said the main problem during this week’s storm was that the region had been experiencing drought for about a month and rainfall had exceeded the average annual amount.
“We’ve already exceeded the annual average rainfall,” Bhide said. “That’s where you see the significant impacts. And we’re going to have to find a wide range of solutions, including improving our stormwater systems and improving policies that better account for these types of weather patterns.”
Bhide said the city’s ongoing stormwater restoration projects have helped prevent excessive flooding in some neighborhoods.
PHOTOS: Heavy rain causes flooding and rescues in Tampa
Some council members, meanwhile, wondered whether developments across Tampa contributed to the situation.
“We’re doing too much (development) on too little (land). And Mother Nature is striking back, and yesterday Mother Nature struck back. There wasn’t enough seepage into the ground,” said City Councilman Alan Clendenin.
The city government urges home and business owners to ensure that garbage and grass clippings are picked up and not dumped into the city’s sewers.
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