Severe Flooding Hits St. Petersburg Amid Torrential Rains
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Wednesday evening flooding at Tyrone Boulevard and 9th Avenue North. Photo: Shaquille Lashley. This is a developing story. Torrential rains caused widespread flooding Wednesday evening in St. Petersburg, with dozens of stalled vehicles littering roadways that resembled canals.
Social media was abuzz with incredulous, and often stranded, residents warning others of localized dangers and pleading for help from elected officials. To make matters worse, the area will likely see a third consecutive day with downpours. St. Petersburg received 3-5” inches of rain Tuesday evening, causing manholes to discharge at least 3,000 gallons of untreated wastewater. The saturated city received even more rain Wednesday; nearly half a foot fell on some west St.
Pete neighborhoods in hours. A resident reported that “cars were floating” at 13th Avenue North and 58th Street. Photo: Roberta RamaSanto. At roughly 9:00 p. m.
Wednesday, Councilmember Richie Floyd warned constituents that area roads remained inundated. “We even had water enter our home in Central Oak Park for the first time,” he wrote. “Please stay home and be aware that the ground is so saturated that we will likely have issues if it rains again tomorrow! ” While social media posts show bubbling manholes, it remains unclear if St. Petersburg experienced a second consecutive day of wastewater discharges.
A city spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and officials have not submitted any new environmental pollution reports as of press time. The issue was not confined to typically flood-prone parts of the city. One social media user reported water intrusion in Disston Heights, which, at 50 feet above sea level, is one of St. Petersburg’s highest neighborhoods. Many people, like Floyd, wrote that their homes and streets have not flooded during tropical storms.
TV meteorologist Denis Phillips highlighted wind gusts reaching 46 mph Wednesday evening. The St. Petersburg Police Department reported extensive flooding at 11 intersections. While officers implored residents to stay home, many lacked that option and became trapped by impassable roads. “I must have missed the ‘flash flood’ warning, and realized I wasn’t the only one,” wrote Sam Hill.
“But after standing two hours hip deep in sewer water, just a shout out to the family who owns CJ’s Backstage in St. Petersburg, also a family well-versed in mechanics. ” Driving through flood water causes engine, electrical, brake and suspension damage. Dozens of motorists traversing West St. Pete are without running vehicles Thursday morning.
“Until the city finally does something about the drain, please stay off 22nd Avenue North near 34th Street during huge storms,” wrote a resident in a lo.