TAMPA, Fla. — North Tampa residents are still in shock after losing everything due to unexpected flooding following Hurricane Milton.

What You Need To Know

  • Residents blame pump failures in Forest Hills for flooded homes

  • The city of Tampa says street flooding was likely caused by the historic rainfall that came with Hurricane Milton

  • City officials say the pump at Curiosity Creek did have a backup generator and that they are looking into why it didn’t turn on

“We had to be evacuated by the National Guard,” said Gwendolyn Torres, recalling the rescue of her family, including two members with special needs.

Torres says she thought the worst was over when Hurricane Milton came and went the night of October 9.

Her family expected the loss of power following the storm, but not the flooding from the retention pond across the street.

“Over 25 years, this has never come out,” said Torres.

All the Torres family belongings are now in their front yard.

“My family is safe, and I’m grateful, but the hurt and the memories of what we lost cannot be replaced,” said Torres.

She didn’t think flood insurance was necessary since the area was in Zone X and not considered a flood zone.

“This house has a 1/500 chance of flooding,” she said.

Residents blame pump failures in Forest Hills due to the power going out.

However, the City of Tampa says street flooding was likely caused by the historic rainfall that came with Hurricane Milton.

“Hurricane Milton did not do this. It was the city’s retention ponds that failed, as well as their generators,” Torres said.

She raised three generations of her family at the home. The recent widow says she lost everything to water damage.

“This is where we all came back to and now that’s gone,” she said.

The Torres family is staying in hotels and set up a GoFundMe.

The city says they are now focused on helping everyone here recover with resources. On Tuesday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Councilman Luis Viera, and FEMA will host a meeting for flood victims at Crossover Church at 6 p.m.

“Forest Hills University area, home to many, many lower income, hard-working families going. There’s a lot of anger out there. There’s a lot of frustration out there. There’s a lot of emotion out there. And I feel it when I talk to people and people have reasonable questions,” said Viera.

The City of Tampa sent this message:

“Our pumps in Forest Hills did not operate due to a lack of power. One of them – Curiosity Creek – did have a backup generator. We’re looking into why it didn’t turn on. Our team restored generator power to Curiosity Creek by noon on Thursday, October 10th. TECO power was restored on Monday, October 14. Our folks agree that even if that backup generator occurred, street flooding was still likely,” said Infrastructure & Mobility Communications Coordinator Joshua Cascio.

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