Flooding

In an effort to send unified messaging, the National Weather Service is issuing a flood product that will assess the risk for the entire country over the next 7 days.

Hurricane Debby caused upwards of $57 million in damage to Manatee County homes, according to the county.

By combining structures and the environment, city officials are working on a project that will hopefully alleviate a longtime concern.

A wet weather pattern is expected to bring more rain and a higher risk of flooding into some parts of water logged SW Florida.

Due to a National Weather Service forecast for heavy rain, self-service sandbags are available for residents in Sarasota County and in the city of North Port.

The aid is available to residents and business owners in Sarasota and Manatee counties at DisasterAssistance.gov, or 800-621-FEMA (3362).

The area has lost nearly 6 feet of soil in the past century through a process called subsidence. One way to slow down this subsidence and preserve the nutrient-rich soil is to flood the area during Florida’s rainy season and use the fields to grow rice.

Rescue teams say people should never drive through flooded streets.

Debby, which came ashore in Florida as a minimal Category 1 hurricane, has flooded low-lying communities and left thousands without power in places as far away as Ohio and New York City.

High tide floods – when water collects in streets or even seeps into buildings on days without rain – are increasingly common in coastal areas as sea levels rise, a new report warns.

Even after storms lose their hurricane status and head far inland, they can still cause dangerous floods. Storms like Beryl pose risks far from the coast, even in Canada.

The new report suggests nearly all coastal communities face the threat of significant "critical infrastructure" impacts over the next 25 years.