'Floorboards floating, it's not easy': Sarasota residents demand answers

It was an absolutely devastating view as Judi and Dave Park walked through their home three days after Tropical Storm Debby drenched Sarasota County.

[tomb]

If you know where this neighborhood is, and have lived here awhile, there is no way you can be surprised. You can develop houses 10 feet apart on thousands of acres and not expect this. Developers and County planners need to be held responsible or it will only get worse.

[webrunner]

Been in Florida since 1964. Can't count the total number of storms, depressions, tropical waves, invests, TS & hurricanes in every category. Peoplare always amazed every single year of the devastation that comes from June through November. People, here it is in a nutshell, we live on a penninsula that juts out into the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and they are surprised when everything they hold dear gets submerged by 4 to 6 feet of water!. Wife and I lost nearly everything in 2022 with hurricane Ian in Orlando, Florida. To live in this state is a crapshoot at best not to be touched with loss or damage sometime for 60 years.
Want some advice, don't move near a large body of water let alone 2 huge bodies of water and not expect damage of some sort. There is only so much governments, municipalities can do to protect people/citizens from themselves. Next time look in the mirror when you want to find blame for making bad decisions...

[MedicRN]

Demand answers about what? That they built on swamp land in a flood zone? This was not a secret. Flood insurance is more important than Hurricane insurance and those who listen, know. If you love your home and property, you'll research what you need to do to protect it. I feel so bad for these people. But, it's no one's fault unless builders hid the fact that this was swamp and flood zone.

*Edited to add that I looked up FEMA flood maps, updated this year in March, and that entire community is a flood zone.

[bbrcummins]

I had 14 inches of rain at my property and was mowing my grass the next day. Be careful where you buy land, just a little advice from 61 year Floridian.

[kisnhug]

Developers that build homes move land and trees. 😢Therefore, the water has nowhere to go. 😢The question is, who signed the paperwork? 🤬🤬🤬

[Jerry-syrd]

It’s NOT the rain it’s the DRAINAGE. And the apparent total lack of coordination regarding it. Just too complicated and EXPENSIVE for developers and “regulators to deal with I guess.

[jasoncrandall]

Sarasota County Hurricane Ian- Recorded rainfall greater than 10 inches in Sarasota County.

Hurricane Debby dumped record-breaking rainfall across Sarasota and Manatee counties over the weekend, with some areas getting as much as 15 inches in less than 24 hours.

[jtpalooki]

Older neighborhoods don’t stand a chance since contractors are raising surrounding newer homes significantly higher than!

[moonshinefuel]

Florida's native habitat is a swamp, so what happens when you destroy the swamp lands and build homes, this.

[islandwanderer]

Well, I live here too.
But what answers do you want???
We live on a peninsula where the elevation is low, and we are surrounded on 3 sides by water and we have powerful storms.
They didn't tell you that when you moved here?
Floods, wind, gators, skeeters..

[multivisao]

“Demand answers” 😂😂😂😂😂 seriously?!

You choose to build on a swamp
You choose to live in a flood zone
YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER!

Hopefully they bought flood insurance right?!

[FREEDOM]

I've lived in Florida my whole life and had a home destroyed by Charlie in 04. Then governor Bush claimed all he was doing for the residents. Well from my perspective he did nothing for me as I had to hire an adjuster who I paid 10 percent to get my insurance claim through and it took 9 months. Now it's worse if that's possible as some people still don't have a full settlement from Ian. But Desantis has no problem taking in 9 million for his PAC from insurance companies. Florida has the highest rates in the USA and the worst coverage! I just wish people understood what these politicians represent before voting them into office!

[calebsmith]

I know how that feels. We lost everything in Irma. Had enough packed our clothes in the car ran the left lane to TN. Never looked back. Praying for y'all.

[alexeatonexploresamerica]

It comes down to this developers are greedy they tried to build stuff as cheap as possible they tried to sell it for as much as possible they don't care about the buyer they're in it for the profit

[karlaruter]

Prayers for all the people that were affected.

[bmwlane]

Can you imagine if the local government starting throwing some restrictions arounds....these same people would lose their minds if it was 2 weeks ago.

[freddyrodriguez]

so you WERENT in a flood zone, now you are? :/

[LarrySummerlin-ibde]

Historic rainfalls. Or building on the celery fields.

[jboss]

I FEEL FOR THESE PEOPLE. HOWEVERI WOULDNT LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE COAST, A RIVER OR EVEN A STREAM OR LAKE WITHOUT HAVING MY HOUSE AT LEAST ABOUT 7 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

[PaulR]

Its amazing these people live in FLORIDA and are shocked that they get hurricanes and tropical storms and torrential rains