Port St. Lucie residents frustrated over flooding

Crews continue to pump out water flooding streets

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Menores Ave., Port St. Lucie
Photographer: YouReporter: Sterling
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Posted: 12/11/2011

By: Jeff Skrzypek

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -

The puddles could be spotted all over Port St. Lucie on Saturday and at times, there was so much water it looked like several lakes had popped up.

The large amounts of rain closed roads, flooded streets and filled up some residents with frustration.

"It's unfortunate. You worry about your property, you worry about property lines and then you worry about vehicles getting stuck," said Tina Stone, a Port St. Lucie resident.

The anger stems from the memories of the 2008 flooding when Tropical Storm Fay swept through Port St. Lucie and dumped more than a foot of rain. Since then, the city and taxpayers have invested 35 million dollars into a drainage improvement plan.

"I have not seen flooding so bad, well the last one we had and this one. I mean it doesn't seem to get any better," said Ray Pack, a Port St. Lucie resident.

While residents question the cause of the recent flooding, the city has an explanation.

"Well we certainly understand their frustration. People want this to be done. They've had to deal with it in the past and it's very frustrating, especially if it's coming toward your house," said Ed Cunningham, City of Port St. Lucie spokesperson.

Cunningham said the project is finished on the south end of Port St. Lucie. On the north end though, Cunningham said it is not finished and the weather simply caught the city off guard.

"It's too bad it happened as bad as it did, but I mean it could have been a lot worse than it is if they hadn't done what they're doing," said Brent Anderson, a Port St. Lucie resident.

The city said it's hoping to have the entire drainage improvement plan finished by the summer of 2012.