Urban planner, USF expert weighs in on recent Tampa Bay flooding
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There has been a lot of flooding in our region the last few months, but it’s not only the amount we’ve seen this year that has people worried. Steven Fernandez, an Associate Instructor at the University of South Florida, said this flooding has him worried about the future. He has spent 10 years analyzing flooding affecting Florida communities and is worried about multiple Tampa Bay communities. “In certain low-lying areas, a lot of man-made islands,” he said. “Especially Shore Acres, in St.
Petersburg, St. Pete Beach has a lot of flooding issues. ” From new buildings, paving over more areas, to the removal of trees, Fernandez said all of this contributes to flooding. He said in the last 50 years, the sea level in Tampa Bay has risen eight inches, making flooding much more common when a storm comes through. “If the sea level keeps rising even just an inch or two, it just gets worse and worse,” he said.
“Cars will not be able to pass through intersections and emergency vehicles will also have a lot of issues. ” Fernandez said to see a decrease in flooding, more drainage areas are needed, such as retention ponds.