POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is sending industrial pumps to Lakeland to help clear floodwaters that remain in the Lake Bonny area of Lakeland.
The first of the pumps is expected to arrive Wednesday.
What You Need To Know
- Lake Bonny neighborhood residents in Lakeland still dealing with flooding
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is sending industrial pumps to aid in flooding
- Residents living near Lake Bonny voiced their frustrations at Lakeland’s commission meeting on Monday
- PREVIOUS STORY: ‘We have nowhere to live’: Lake Bonny residents voice frustrations over flooding
This comes after a heated meeting Monday between residents and city leaders.
According to a public notice from Communications Director Kevin Cook, Lakeland obtained a permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to construct and operate an emergency pump to increase water flow from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker. While city commissioners assure the pump is working, they acknowledge it’s not operating as effectively as needed.
“There are two parts: where it’s being pumped to can only handle so much, and that’s going to keep the water from flowing back,” Commissioner Mike Musick said. “And the other thing is just debris from the storm. We had a hurricane blowing all over the place, so being out there all the time — just like a pool — you’ve got to screen it, then re-screen it, and then re-screen it.”
However, Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz said the flooding has reached beyond what the pump can address.
“To be as drastic as necessary, we have to do something that requires much more pumping in that area,” he said.
The floodwaters still remain, two weeks after Hurricane Milton moved through the region.
But homeowners in the area said the flooding problems started in August, adding that water crept closer to their homes during Hurricanes Debby and Helene. Then Milton hit, dropping more than 10 inches on Lakeland.
Homeowners said city officials failed to act.
“What has to happen?” asked resident Diana Hoagland. “Who has to get hurt? Who has to be sick? There is sewage in that water. There is sewage in people’s homes. The water continued to rise for six days.”
Mutz said there are a lot of decisions that need to be made and that the city shares the concerns of the residents.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is delivering the pumps and 6,000 feet of piping from Hendry County at some point on Wednesday.
Once it’s all in place, they’ll man the system 24 hours a day to make sure it’s working safely.
Officials said it will remain in place until the job is done.