FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. – After Hurricane Ian, Flagler Beach streets transformed into canals with feet-deep water, forcing some people to use canoes as transportation.
Residents anticipate floods after strong hurricanes, but they don’t understand the day-to-day flooding.
“Stormwater has plagued the city for many years, and our stormwater master plan is somewhat dated; it’s from 2009,” Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin said.
The antiquated system has been the root of flooding issues that residents say must be fixed.
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“I’m frustrated because we have not done much with stormwater over the last 15 years or so, and it’s been a consistent problem,” said one resident.
On a sunny day, residents expect dry roads and yards, but some find their yards flooded from rainfall the week before.
Martin said the city has hired the engineering firm McKim and Creed to create an updated stormwater plan. He said the fixes won’t come overnight, though.
“No, absolutely not, we’re kind of halfway through phase 1 of a three-phase project,” Martin said.
Phase 1 involves engaging with affected people.
“We’re trying to be as engaging and transparent in our process as possible so that when we get to the end of it, there’s trust in our work,” Patrick Jehle, regional manager of McKim and Creed, said.
He and other engineers met with residents individually to gather information for a new storm system.
Kristina Shustack has lived in her Flagler Beach property for seven years, and she said flooding gets worse with every rainstorm.
She added that it has cost her a lot.
“My life years of being upset, I’ve spent thousands of dollars trying to remedy things on my own,” Shustack said.
Shustack and Jehle discussed flooding impacts on her property and scheduled a site visit.
“This is the furthest we’ve ever gotten, so I’m feeling hopeful and heard, which is important,” Shustack said.
Phase 2 of the project involves clearing the stormwater system plan with city commissioners, while Phase 3 is implementation.
The city manager said they would tackle low-hanging fruit next year, with larger projects starting in 2026 and beyond.
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