Manatee County residents voice concerns over new developments and flooding

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Manatee County residents are raising concerns over new developments in their area, as they continue to recover from the flooding caused by Hurricane Debby.

Drone footage from Anna Ritzenthaler’s property shows just how devastating the flooding has been in her neighborhood. Many residents are speaking out, demanding action to address the issues.

They blame new development.

“They are about to add 16 more houses, I wanted that stopped, figure out your water before you add any more,” Ritzenthaler said.

The East Manatee Preservation Association held a forum in Parrish to discuss the impact of Debby’s flooding and the ongoing concerns about local development.

Residents said the area’s rapid growth is making the flooding worse, leaving their homes and farms vulnerable.

“I live off Golfcrest Road and I own a small farm. Our cow pasture had almost 4 feet of standing water in it,” Sara Evancho said.

Others, like Ritzenthaler, are worried about losing more than just property.

“We lost chickens, we lost tools — our shed is completely destroyed,” she said.

As new homes are built, the community is pleading for better drainage systems, which they believe will solve the problem.

“This was a farming community, and it was set up for the water to drain into the pastures. The pastures are gone, there’s subdivisions with elevations that are 5, 6 feet taller than the road. There’s nowhere for the water to go except downhill to us,” resident Michele English said.

Residents told 8 On Your Side they are urging county commissioners to step in and put a halt to further development until the drainage issues are resolved.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.