Floods from Monday storms menace parts of Southwest Florida

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Saturation from last week’s brush with Tropical Storm Hermine and heavy rains from scattered thunderstorms Monday combined to create flooding in parts of Southwest Florida.

Hardest hit were areas where 7 inches of rain fell near in DeSoto and Charlotte Counties near Deep Creek, a tributary to the Peace River. Several roads wound up under water, forcing their closure and stranding some residents.

The following roads in the area were closed as of Tuesday afternoon:

• Olean Boulevard near Kings Highway
• Sandhill Boulevard between Bushire Lane and Capricorn Boulevard
• Westchester Boulevard near Swanee Road
• Westchester Boulevard near Oak View Drive
• Elmira Boulevard near Swanee Road
• Loveland Boulevard near Suncoast Boulevard
• Cedar Avenue near Southwest Erwin Street

Some who live on private roads near Cedar Avenue in the Lake Suzy area of DeSoto County said they had just poured thousands of dollars into road and culvert maintenance before the rains came and washed their work away.

“We need some help of some sort from the county to maintain the culvert,” Sandra Hart said. “I realize it’s a private road, but they can do something to help us with that culvert.”

Some residents said they’re cut off from fire and ambulance service and expressed worry about what would happen in the event of an emergency. College student Caitlyn Wallace, who lives in the area, had to wade through thigh-deep water to make it to class.

Areas near Burnt Store Road in western Charlotte County were also deluged. Gail Kingston, who owns a ranch by the road, said she cried when she saw the water that flooded her home. She contacted the public works department but said she hasn’t heard back.

The house has flooded before, Kingston said, wondering why no agency has put infrastructure in place to prevent it from happening again.

Relief from the rain may be a ways off. Scattered afternoon and evening storms are in the forecast for each day in the week ahead.