POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Even though Polk County wasn’t directly impacted by Idalia, the storm brought heavy rain to the Mulberry area, which experienced a great deal of flooding.

What You Need To Know

  • Some Imperial Lakes residents say they are concerned over flooding in their community that has left cars stranded and residents unable to get to their homes

  • Several residents say flooding has been happening for years even when little rain hits

  • County leaders say a $7 million project is in the works to help put an end to flooding issues

It has left residents frustrated because the flooding happens often, hurricane or not.

They say it seems like even a small amount of rain causes disruptions near the Imperial Lakes area. That was the case for Tony Baguio on Friday morning.

“I was able to go through, but then I was trying to switch lanes on the shallow side because it’s shallower, but it still floods," he said. "Then I got stuck with the cement here.”

Baguio and his wife Lissie moved to the area five years ago and say the same issue has popped up year after year.

"This is crazy," Lissie Baguio said. "You can’t expect people to go like this another two years, we pay taxes.”

Videos and photos show the flooding conditions leaving cars stranded and people not able to access their homes.

Lissie Baguio says she’s had it with the area flooding and wants action to be taken.

“I would like to see the water go down," she said. "Something has to give."

Friday morning, cars that were left stranded by the water the night before were being removed, and families are assessing the damage.

J. Paul Alvarez said this scenario isn’t new, explaining that it's something he’s seen year after year in his 38 years of living in the area.

He said the flooding should be top of concern for leaders as it’s dangerous for all those living in the area.

“The county needs to send some engineers out here and determine why water piles up here and what they need to do to drain it off into the lakes,” said Alvarez.

Those concerns are being heard, according to County Manager Bill Beasely.

He said a $7 million project is in the works to help target the flooding issues that Imperial Lakes has had. The project is expected to be completed in a year and a half.