Several homeowners continue to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which submerged entire residential areas last fall. Among those affected are Kim and Michael Barnes, who have lived on their property for two decades.

“We couldn’t even reach our home because of the flooding,” Kim Barnes explained. “We had to use my son’s canoe to rescue our neighbors, including a family with a toddler. We made multiple trips just to feed our cat who was still in the house.”

The flooding, which stemmed from an overflowing retention pond, didn’t begin to subside until mid-December, despite pumps being installed on November 1. According to the Barnes, this disaster might have been preventable. They had repeatedly warned county officials about potential flooding risks from nearby development.

“We attended numerous meetings to contest these development plans,” Kim Barnes said. “We put it on record that building this development would worsen flooding conditions. The impact extends beyond our property – water flowing from Happy Hill affects downstream communities in Hickory Hill and Fort King.”

Now that the water has receded, the Dade City couple faces the challenge of rehabilitating their property. Michael Barnes expressed concern about potential solutions: “Even raising the ground level here would require massive amounts of dirt and would just redirect flooding problems to other properties.”

Despite losing their vehicles to the flood and facing the possibility of future disasters, the Barnes family intends to stay. “It’s frightening to think about losing our vehicles again or being displaced from our home,” Kim Barnes said. “But this is our home.”

Pasco County officials report they coordinated with the state to provide temporary pumps and trucks for flood relief, though these resources were relocated outside the county in early December. The county advises affected residents who applied for FEMA assistance to follow up on their applications.

Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Google, & X

(Image credit: Tampa Bay Times)