### Tampa Bay Neighborhoods Hit by Unprecedented Flooding from Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has wreaked havoc across various Tampa Bay neighborhoods, leaving many residents grappling with unexpected flooding. Areas not previously marked as flood zones experienced severe inundations, challenging residents' trust in flood-risk maps and local infrastructure.

Lisa Vacante chose her home in St. Petersburg’s Kenwood neighborhood for its reputation as a no-evacuation zone. However, Hurricane Milton brought flooding she had never witnessed in her 19 years there. Her car was submerged, water infiltrated her home, and sewage emerged from her shower drain. Similar scenes played out across Lutz, New Tampa, and Pasco County, areas historically considered safe from such flooding.

Experts attribute this unexpected flooding to outdated drainage systems and rapid new construction. Trevor Burgess, CEO of St. Petersburg-based Neptune Flood insurance, highlighted the universal risk of flooding in Florida. Many Floridians, including Vacante, lack flood insurance, leaving them vulnerable to financial losses from storm damage. Only about 18% of Floridians carry flood insurance, which means the rest must bear the costs out of pocket.

Kailey Tencza from Lutz witnessed floodwaters from a nearby pond overwhelming her backyard, while street drainage pushed water into her driveway. Hillsborough County's Director of Engineering & Operations, Josh Bellotti, noted that local lakes and ponds are overflowing, leading to widespread flooding without a clear escape route for the water.

Sunny Simpkins, executive director for the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, stressed the need for modernized drainage systems to combat intense storms fueled by climate change. Historical development over natural flood buffers like wetlands has reduced regions’ natural defenses, complicating flood management.

Furthermore, Maria Watson from the University of Florida's School of Construction Management suggested that future construction must embrace green infrastructure and preserve existing wetlands to mitigate flooding. Watson pointed to the resilient design of Babcock Ranch near Punta Gorda, which withstood Hurricane Ian due to innovative drainage solutions.

Residents like Debra Hall in Lutz, who have lived in their neighborhoods for decades, are now questioning the permanence of these flooding issues. With the potential for more frequent and intense storms, the need for updated infrastructure and stronger building codes is more urgent than ever.