With expected torrential rainfall over the Memorial Day weekend, there is a chance of flooding in Southwest Florida. That isn't what people living in areas hit hard by flooding last year want to hear. Fifteen inches of rain fell in five days in parts of the area in August of 2017, flooding the streets of the Reserve at Estero.
"The ground was completely saturated, then we had big rains," said Patrick Kelly, who lives in the Reserve, where the high water stayed for days after the massive rainfall. "The lack of drainage is what we had."
Estero's director of public works David WIllems said they don't want to see a repeat of that scenario, so he and other village leaders have had a series of talks with gated communities like the Reserve at Estero about how they can alleviate any flooding problems.
"Making sure debris gets removed from inlets, drainage structures, and making sure their outfalls are clean," Willems said.
A Lee County spokeswoman said the county has also had crews working to clear debris - such as dead trees and branches from - swales and ditches, so that any floodwaters can drain faster.
Sustained flooding in August also caused damage in Bonita Springs, as well as neighborhoods along Island Park Road in South Fort Myers, after water got inside homes.
But Willems said that wasn't until after a long and wet rainy season that saturated the ground. He doesn't expect any standing water from this weekend's downpours to stay around for very long.
"Just two weeks ago we were worried about how dry it was," he said. "So the water levels are much lower than they were in August of last year."
"As long as it doesn't get into people's homes, we're going to be OK," Kelly said.
Drivers are urged not to drive through any flooded roadways. In case flooding does threaten homes, Florida Fish & Wildlife has begun to stage its high-water vehicles in areas prone to flooding, to be ready to help anyone in flooded neighborhoods.
