‘You might find a sinkhole': Zephyrhills resident demands answers on constant flooding
ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (WFLA) — News Channel 8 On Your Side is working to get help for a Pasco County neighborhood that deals with constant flooding.
One homeowner says the neighborhood flooded once again after recent storms, and she is demanding answers from county leaders because of it.
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Olivia Jackson started voicing her concerns to county officials late last summer, several weeks before Hurricanes Helene and Milton made landfall.
She says there's only one way in and out of her Zephyrhills cul-de-sac on Kendell Drive, but every time it rains, she has to deal with muddy floodwaters and deteriorating asphalt on the street.
'Yesterday, I grabbed everything off the ground,' Jackson said. 'If we're not there to stop it or pump it away from the door, it will get into the house. We have to pull out pumps and sandbags every time.'
Many residents who live in the area are familiar with the flooding along Kendell Drive.
'It's totally across the street,' said Ruth Ann Foster. 'You can't see where the holes are. You might find a sinkhole. You never know what you're going to find when you go into it.'
The Pasco County Public Works Department is aware of the flooding concerns in the community.
'We believe that the current issues are related to recent changes made to CR54 and 23rd Street,' read an email dated Sept. 6. 'These changes are directing heavier flow of storm water to your street than normal.'
The email also states, 'Our Operations and Engineering teams, are actively working with our Transportation Engineering Department to finalize a solution to the flooding at your location.'
However, five months later, residents have not seen any changes to the issues.
'They keep telling me they're going to work on it and work on it and work on it, but it hasn't been done yet,' Jackson said. 'I haven't seen anyone out there trying to do anything to it.'
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