ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — People who live in the area of Sutton Oaks Lane in Zephyrhills said they want action taken to prevent flooding in their neighborhood after water levels were still multiple feet high in spots on Thursday.

Phary Cottrell, who's lived on Sutton Oaks for two years, said she couldn't actually reach her house when she came home from work on Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • Sutton Oaks Lane in Zephyrhills was still flooded four days after Hurricane Debby

  • Residents said the neighborhood is known to flood, but this was worse than normal

  • Neighbors said they think nearby development is exacerbating flooding

  • Officials with the city of Zephyrhills said they weren't previously aware of flooding in the area and couldn't say whether development is to blame

"I looked at the yard, I started to cry," Cottrell said. "Then, my husband came, brought the tractor. I rode the tractor into the property."

Since Debby dumped rain across Tampa Bay, water has surrounded the area leading up to Cottrell's house. Down the street, Jonathon Sloan's back yard looked like a lake. A small pump he set up took was taking water from the back yard and gushed it onto his front lawn.

"All I'm doing is really just trying to move a little bit of the water that's here," Sloan said.

Sloan said he's lived in the area for six years, and while it has flooded before, he said this much water is unusual.

"Never, never like this," he said.

Some residents told Spectrum News they think the nearby Abbott Square subdivision development has led to more water flowing into Simons Lake, which then overflows onto their properties. 

"It's very stressful," Cottrell said of the situation.

Zephyrhills Public Information Officer Kevin Weiss said Spectrum News' request for information about the situation was the first time the city had been made aware of the issue.

Weiss said Abbott Square residents have complained of flooding and the engineer of record, WRA Engineering, has committed to addressing that issue. He said the city didn't have information about whether the development was contributing to the flooding on Sutton Oaks, saying that was a question for WRA. 

"Now that we are aware of the issue on Sutton Oaks Lane, we will be reaching out to the EOR to ensure this is investigated and resolved," Weiss said via email. "The City of Zephyrhills is committed to addressing these concerns promptly and ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents."

"We are taxpayers," said Cottrell. "We deserve to live better than living in a swamp, and we should be able to get in and out of our property."

One neighbor said he's reached out to Pasco County and others for years about the general flooding issue. Residents said they want to finally see action taken.

A Pasco County spokesperson told Spectrum News he was working to get answers. WRA did not respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.