TAMPA, Fla. — The historical roots that were deeply grounded in Progress Village were breached by unexpected flooding during back-to-back hurricanes.

What You Need To Know

  • Two months after hurricanes Milton and Helene, some residents in Progress Village are now concerned about the risk of permanent displacement

  • Several homeowners are still awaiting responses to their FEMA claims

  • Many did not have flood insurance and are now facing total losses

The Progress Village community was established in the 1950s to provide affordable housing for Black Americans and to mitigate displacements caused by redevelopment in historically Black communities. 

Two months after hurricanes Milton and Helene, some residents in Progress Village are now concerned about the risk of permanent displacement due to extensive flood damage. 

“The water was coming, just coming in the house, and it never did that before. They had boats and everything rescuing people,” said Catherine Davis.  

Five years ago, Davis moved into the Hillsborough County suburb.

“Everybody on my block got flooded. They never came back here. The people next door they are selling their property,” she said. 

Davis fears that many residents, particularly seniors, will eventually be forced out or priced out of the community.

She states that several homeowners, herself included, are still awaiting responses to their FEMA claims.

“It takes a while for you to receive the insurance money to do what you have to do to fix up your house,” said Davis. 

Her neighbor, Veroniya Winkfield, and multiple generations of her family were born and raised in Progress Village.

“Yes. My grandparents owned this home, and once they passed on and my father, who also lived here, he passed on six years ago, and the home was left to me,” said Winkfield. 

She wants to preserve her home for future generations of her family.

“I do understand that the drainage is poor, as what I've been told, but if you (the county) would maintain, that would help the drainage,” said Winkfield. 

She continuously raised concerns about debris clogging drains to the county. 

Two years ago, Hillsborough County approved a regional drainage improvement project worth $17.3 million.

The project is scheduled to be completed by late 2025.  

This is a project she hopes will protect her home from future flood damage. While this may solve one issue, Winkfield states that the economic devastation from these storms will change the Progress Village community forever.

Many homeowners did not have flood insurance and are now facing total losses.

“They can’t come back home because of the condition of their home,” Winkfield said. 

Neighbors hope that the community that afforded Black Americans the opportunity of first time homeownership can rebuild and flourish again.