ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dozens of cars at Vinoy Hotel are possibly ruined due to heavy rain and flooding Thursday night.
- Flooding at Vinoy Hotel in St. Pete
- Three feet of water in parking garage
- Cars that were flooded are now being towed out.
Three feet of water flooded the Vinoy valet parking garage Thursday night after heavy downpours.
The water didn't drain off either, and the hotel had to use pumps overnight to get the water out.
Cars flooded in the Vinoy valet garage are now being towed out.
Record-breaking rainfall left dozens of vehicles underwater in the lower garage of the St. Petersburg hotel.
Some guests tell us their soaked cars are totaled from water damage.
Vinoy guest, Rick Graham's truck was in at least three feet of water and was one of the many towed vehicles on Friday.
"Water damage as far as the waterline right there, it got in the engine compartment, inside the driver's compartment, my side the driver's seat was wet (so was the passenger's seat) the passenger's seat. There’s all kinds of electronics in there," Graham said.
The Vinoy issued a statement, saying in part that the issue was related to environmental conditions, saying it is working with its valet partner to accommodate guests concerns and assess damage.
Other areas also saw flooding Thursday. Down the street in Snell Isles, Snell Isles Boulevard was hit by what firefighters called a flash flood. Some drivers had to be rescued after their cars stalled out in the flood waters.
The Vinoy is working to restore normal garage operations soon as possible.
The statement says the hotel regrets any inconvenience.