Flooding

On "Florida Matters," we speak with WUSF reporters about what local governments are doing to prevent excessive flooding this year and how people are rebuilding ahead of the hurricane season.

After last year’s storms, local governments and the state could end up changing their land development codes to make sure structures are safer and more resilient, an expert says.

The utility terrain vehicles are ready to help people trapped by high waters during the next major storm. They're big, they float and they bring a "fantastic" reaction from those in need of assistance.

Hundreds of homes far inland were flooded last year during Hurricane Milton. We look at the reason why and what local governments are doing to keep it from happening again.

Sarasota County recently updated its plan for areas prone to flooding. If approved, lower flood insurance rates could be in residents' future.

Hillsborough County is holding public meetings to hear how it can do a better job of handling flooding during the upcoming storm season.

While the state is offering to pay for about 75% of the elevation cost through federal grants, one resident questions how stable the funding from Washington really is.

Lake Bonny residents have launched a petition online demanding oversight of city flood mitigation.

For months now, one couple has been staying in an RV parked in their front yard.

Said one resident: "I've got a home here that's now not even sitting on its foundation correctly because of the water, and I don't know what to do."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is borrowing $2 billion to pay National Flood Insurance Program claims. The agency said the two hurricanes as of Feb. 6 had led to more than 78,000 claims, with estimated losses possibly topping $10 billion.

They include upgrading several water pump stations throughout the city, and putting generators at all the stations while switching to generator power for all the stations right before storms hit.