Tampa, Fla., residents experienced prevalent flooding Saturday after storms dumped more than 2 in. of rain over some areas. The floodwaters accumulated within about 40 minutes. But according to city storm water department director Chuck Walter, the flooding that soaked some homes and businesses could have been worse.

Tampa recently invested more than $3 million in projects aimed at fixing traditional flooding problems along local streets, Walter said. But the area's flooding problems appear far from solved.

"We don't have a system that can take water that falls from the sky that fast," Walter said. "It probably will not be the last time this happens."

He advised residents living in low-lying areas of Tampa to purchase flood insurance and suggested that all locals clear debris from their neighborhoods' clogged storm drains.

The city's rain gauges recorded 2.57 in. of rainfall at 13th Street and 4.25 in. at 43rd Street on Saturday. "That area got nailed," Walter said, adding that he would not be surprised if an area between these gauages received even heavier rainfall.

The watershed that includes these gauge areas drains into McKay Bay. Flooding occurred near on some city streets because inlets in the area were covered with leaves and other debris. "City staff can't clean these fast enough," said Walter.

According to Walter, inlets in nearby Ybor City sucked down rainwater quickly, but a surge occurred because of the large amount flooding into the system. He added that without a recent $2.7 million storm water drain size increase project along Seventh Avenue near 15th Street, "this flooding over the weekend would have definitely flooded Centro Ybor."

Another project costing $550,000 fixed flooding problems on Nuccio Parkway, but Walter said no other storm water projects are slated for the immediate future. City officials, though, are discussing possible projects south of Seventh Avenue and 15th Street with the Ybor City Development Corp, he said.

Source: The Tampa Tribune