Members of the Resilient St. Pete Resident Task Force will visit several South St. Petersburg neighborhoods this Saturday to hear directly from residents about chronic flooding issues.

“The residents are the real experts — they live there, they know what’s happening,” said Claude Tankersley, the city’s Public Works Administrator. “We’re pairing them with engineers who understand stormwater systems, so we can start working together on real solutions.”

The task force, formed through a partnership between the City and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, will tour Bartlett Park, Harbordale, Bonita Bayou, and Coquina Key. Their first tour took place last weekend in Shore Acres and Riviera Bay.

“We’re gathering input and will return for community workshops to ensure we heard everyone clearly,” Tankersley added. “Then we’ll start developing solutions.”

Angel Torrens, president of the Harbordale Civic Association, said his community is in urgent need of help. During Hurricane Helene, floodwaters completely surrounded Harbordale for several hours, isolating residents. Torrens captured video of water engulfing the intersection at 4th Street S. and 22nd Avenue S.

“It was terrifying. I just kept praying it would stop,” he said. “We were cut off—like an island separated from the rest of the city.”

Torrens added that water remained pooled on MLK Street S. and 28th Avenue S. for days, prompting the National Guard to close off the area.

“This area was underwater for nearly two weeks,” he said. “Flooding stretched all the way up to 26th Avenue.”

That stretch lies near the Salt Creek outlet from Lake Maggiore—something Torrens believes contributed to the flooding. Tankersley confirmed the lake’s single drainage point was a major factor.

“One of our upcoming projects is to create a second outlet for Lake Maggiore,” he said. “That will give us two pathways to release excess water.”

Torrens said residents also want to see storm drains cleaned and Salt Creek dredged. He described a home across from the creek where water regularly bubbles up through the driveway storm drain, even during ordinary rainstorms.

“I’ve seen bubbles coming through the driveway,” he said. “The cement is starting to shift.”

According to city data:

• 67 homes flooded in Bartlett Park (16% of the neighborhood)
  
• 125 homes flooded in Bayou Bonita (77%)
  
• 38 homes flooded in Harbordale (56%)
  

Torrens is optimistic about the task force’s visit and plans to attend.

“I’m glad they’re coming out here,” he said. “I think my neighbors will feel the same once they see real action happening.”

The task force will tour Bartlett Park and Harbordale from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, and Bonita Bayou and Coquina Key from 1 to 3 p.m.

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