During the Hurricane Milton ordeal, many Florida homeowners believed that they would be safe because their homes were not built in flood zones.
It turns out that huge numbers of areas that experts believed would not be dramatically affected were actually hit by severe floods.
At a glance:
- Tampa Bay neighborhoods not previously considered in flood-risk zones, including Kenwood and Lutz, were severely impacted by flooding from Hurricane Milton.
- Many residents, relying on outdated flood zone maps, are now facing unexpected damage and financial losses, as only 18% of Floridians have flood insurance.
- Experts suggest that outdated drainage systems and overdevelopment are contributing to the increased flooding risks, highlighting the need for resilient infrastructure.
Hurricane Milton has left a devastating mark on several Tampa Bay neighborhoods, shocking many residents who never expected their homes to flood. Among them is Lisa Vacante, a St. Petersburg resident who deliberately chose a home in Kenwood, far from the flood-prone coastal areas. Over the years, she weathered multiple hurricanes without issue, but Milton brought her house under siege—her car was submerged, water infiltrated her home, and sewage even backed up into her shower.
Similar stories unfolded across neighborhoods in Lutz, New Tampa, and parts of Pasco County, areas that, like Vacante’s, were not listed in flood-risk zones according to maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Despite this classification, these areas saw extensive flooding during Hurricane Milton, leaving thousands of residents grappling with the aftermath.
Vacante, who does not have flood insurance, like many other Floridians, is now left to face the financial consequences. Only about 18% of Floridians have flood insurance, according to Trevor Burgess, president and CEO of Neptune Flood, an insurance company based in St. Petersburg. “Everyone in Florida is at risk from hurricane flooding,” Burgess explained, emphasizing that the main difference is whether residents are legally required to carry flood insurance.
Kailey Tencza, a resident of Lutz, witnessed firsthand the impact of Milton’s floodwaters as they overtook her backyard, bringing with them a fish and even an alligator. Tencza’s house is backed by a pond that overflowed due to the storm, while drainage from the street only worsened the situation. Hillsborough County officials explained that the surrounding lakes and drainage systems were already overwhelmed, leaving the water with nowhere to go.
Residents like Debra Hall, Tencza’s neighbor, are growing increasingly concerned about the long-term flooding risks in their communities. Hall, who has lived in Lutz since 1990, noted that the water has never been this high, and she now fears being regularly cut off from her home by floodwaters. While she had previously alerted county officials to drainage issues, little has been done to address the problem.
Experts, including Sunny Simpkins, executive director of the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, and Maria Watson, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, point to a combination of outdated drainage systems and rampant development as contributing factors. Florida’s wetlands and natural defenses have been heavily developed, leaving fewer areas for water to drain during storms. The increased intensity of hurricanes, driven by rising sea levels and warming waters, only exacerbates the problem.
Watson highlights Babcock Ranch, a planned community near Punta Gorda, as a model of resilient design. The community’s use of natural drainage systems, oversized retention ponds, and ultra-absorbent pavement helped it withstand Hurricane Ian in 2022 with minimal damage. Such infrastructure solutions, she argues, are key to mitigating the impacts of future storms, but implementing them in existing neighborhoods will require significant investment and political will.
Without proactive efforts, the costs of recovery could far outweigh the costs of prevention. “After storms like this, we have an opportunity to create stronger building codes, elevate structures, and do the things we need to do to keep this from happening again,” Watson said.
As Tampa Bay residents assess the damage from Hurricane Milton, many are left wondering what the future holds and how they can protect themselves from an increasingly volatile climate. For now, the immediate focus remains on recovery, but the need for long-term infrastructure improvements is becoming more apparent with each storm.