Areas in Charlotte County and North Port flooded again Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
In some areas, 4 inches of rain fell from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
There was already standing water in Charlotte County and North Port. Once the rain stopped, the drainage was working hard.
It was "going crazy," according to Charlotte County Communications Director Brian Gleason.
Only a few places Thursday had standing water and those spots tend to be problematic zones, Gleason said.
Water is stacking on top of floodwater, he said.
RECORD RAINFALL?
According to city officials, February through December of 2023 saw 49.02 inches of rainfall total.
From January to September this year, there has already been around 57.65 inches dumped on North Port.
Officials said the record amount of rainfall for a year in the area is 62 inches. That happened in 1922, more than a century ago, according to the National Weather Service.
If 5 more inches fall on the area, that record is reset.
There are still a few months left in the year, as well as a low-pressure system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico.
'IT CAN BE FIXED'
In North Port, spots like Eldron Avenue and Crittendon Street off Sumter Boulevard flooded and left some residents, like Tim Drumm, frustrated.
Drumm, an engineer who lives near Eldron, thinks the flooding is preventable.
He said he has experience working with drainage.
Drumm had more than a foot of water near his house and said he witnessed a woman in a car being helped by first responders after her vehicle was overcome by floodwater.
He thinks she could not tell what was swale and what was street when taking a curve. Both were flooded.
“It can be fixed," Drumm said.
The places flooding are tied to Myakka River overflows, he said, noting not everywhere in the city floods.
Drumm doesn't think the city dug ditches properly. He questions the maintenance of swales in town as well.
Drumm thinks North Port can be selective in its fixes.
“The amount of rain is bad. But 5 inches of rain is not much more than we would normally get," Drumm said.
North Port city staff have said there are reasons for the flooding. They said the city streets are supposed to flood and there has been an overwhelming amount of rainfall this year.
LOW PRESSURE, MORE PRESSURE
A low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico could make its Florida landfall Sunday but may last as a weather system through Tuesday. Predictions have it bringing another 4 to 7 inches to the region, according to Gleason.
Because of that, Charlotte County is asking people to call Public Works if they see flooded areas. Its number is 941-575-3600.
People should keep an eye out for obstructions in their own pipes, too. It will help neighbors.
There is an abundance of water in the equation at the moment, and Gleason hopes the rain this weekend is not too torrential so the water can drain or evaporate properly.
OFFICIALS: TAKE ACTION NOW
North Port officials have recommendations ahead of the weekend. They said street flooding may come and that's the way its stormwater system is supposed to work.
The ground, officials said, is saturated with water from heavy rains, so ponding may occur.
Officials urge drivers to turn in the opposite direction if flood waters are present.
It will take time for the standing water to drain, but it will.
North Port will also have a sandbag filling station available behind the George Mullen Activity Center at 1602 Kramer Way.
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