North Lakeland still plagued by flooding

Image 1 of 4

People who live off Rock Ridge Road are used to their yards flooding. They should be. They live in the Green Swamp.

But Irma really did a job on them. Four days after she hit, they are still in deep trouble.

"In the 36 years that I have lived here, this is the worst that I have seen it," Diana Oxford told FOX 13 on Thursday.

Much of Oxford's yard is underwater. The driest sections are wet and muddy.

"We're just in survival mode," she said. "That's all we can do."

Oxford's daughter lives across the street. She has to park her car on the road because her driveway is nearly washed out and a current is running across it.

Other nearby homes are even in worse shape. Some people have to wade thru 2 to 3 feet of water to get into their house or out to the road.

Outreach Baptist Church looks like a lake. The expansive front lawn, which is several acres, is covered in water. It is quite a sight. Assuming there are no heavy rains, it is going to be weeks before the Rock Ridge Road dries.

Dakota Oxford, who is off from school this week, sees this as the opportunity of a lifetime.

"I get to go fishing in my own backyard," he said.