TAMPA, Fla. — With more wet weather on the way, concern remains top of mind for many across Tampa Bay.
Tampa leaders addressed those concerns during a meeting with its mobility director, but some neighbors feel more can be done.
"I do need some help with this drainage ditch. I'm a taxpayer," Tampa resident Patricia Scott said. "The city of Tampa needs to do something."
Scott reached out to 10 Tampa Bay on Wednesday night after water had gotten into her home. She's among those who feel concerned about the current drainage systems.
Pastor Greg Whaley of Lighthouse Ministries also expressed concerns after water came down around his property.
"Yes, it rained quite a bit yesterday... There was a lot of rain, but if the drainage systems and the areas that was supposed to be cleaned out was cleaned out, this would not have happened," Whaley said.
In a statement, the city of Tampa wrote:
"Our stormwater system is not designed to drain these types of intense storms instantaneously. Typically, it takes 2-3 hours for flood waters to drain in Tampa. There’s no solution to 5 inches of rain in such a short time."
Vik Bhide, Tampa's mobility director, said it's important for homeowners to be weary of yard waste that could be affecting the drains.
Bhide spoke with city council members Thursday during a meeting, where officials explored possible solutions in the future.
"Some of that yard waste is from the wind and the rain, but much of that is either from yards discarded by landscapers or homeowners themselves. We must pay attention to this," Bhide told council members.
There were also talks of creating extra shifts for summer months with crew personnel, along with increasing public awareness of future storms or possible flooding.
Lorraine Parrino of Davis Islands said it took three hours to get home from the floods. She said it typically takes 20 minutes to get home.
"I told my daughter I'm still traumatized today. I've never been through anything like that," Parrino said.
A friend had to come help her at some point. Like others, Parrino was among those stranded by the floods.
Dana Gordon and her husband were also stranded for about 90 minutes, seeking refuge at the parking lot of 4 Rivers Smokehouse.
"Didn't get a lot of sleep last night. It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience getting stuck in the storm waters yesterday," she said.
Gordon, also the president of the Ballast Point Neighborhood Association, said it was the worst flooding she had seen on MacDill Avenue.
Like others, Gordon said she has concerns moving forward about where the stormwater can go, especially with the added development and influx of people who've moved to the area.
City leaders also discussed being cautious about where development may be allowed pointing to density issues as a cause for concern with flooding.