Sarasota County Commission discusses Hurricane Debby relief as residents 'suffer'

Tropical storm Debby caused flooding in Sarasota that hadn’t been seen in years.

Hurricane Debby flooding in Sarasota County.

Hurricane Debby flooding in Sarasota County.

Homes flooded along the Phillippi Creek, where Tifanny Laughlin lives in the South Gate community.

Residents feeling the pain

The backstory:

"I have seen my community, neighbors and friends suffer," Laughlin told Sarasota County Commissioners. 

Homes in Laurel Meadows flooded, too.

Allison Cavallaro is still dealing with the build-back and struggles nearly six months later.

Hurricane Debby flooding in Sarasota County.

Hurricane Debby flooding in Sarasota County.

"There’s been injuries, infections, retired people in our neighborhood have now exhausted all of their money," said Cavallaro. "We have had to lean into an SBA loan. So now we owe money for something that shouldn’t have happened."

Residents speaking up

What they're saying:

Sarasota County Commissioners heard from homeowners who lost it all in flooding during Tropical Storm Debby. 

"This has been 170 days of a nightmare," said Cavallaro.

Commissioners also heard from Spencer Anderson, the head of public works and the county engineer.

Anderson explained how a dike breach in the Cow Pen Slough canal sent water into Laurel Meadows.

Possible solutions

What's next:

Homeowners along Phillippi Creek also expressed concerns about the silt and sand that have piled up high and formed permanent sandbars. 

"They really need to dredge it, and it will help everybody out East and continue on to the Bay," said Laughlin. "They need to do all of it, and they need to help this community because it’s my community and my home alone with everyone here."

Anderson shared 18 options for changes.

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Some of Anderson's 18 proposed changes to the Sarasota County Commissioners.

Of the 18 options, some include no development in high-risk area flood plains, not increasing the runoff volume from proposed developments, and setting more stringent lot drainage requirements for building permits. 

"There’s a mix of things we are going to have to figure out, which is the way forward, and that second workshop will help us dial in," Anderson told FOX 13.

Incoming decisions

Sarasota County Commissioners will have to decide which way to go. They are hosting another workshop first, before the middle of March.

Like homeowners, Commissioner Tom Knight agrees time is of the essence.

"We need to be very serious that we need to be bold and make some bold decisions because people are nervous about this summer coming," Knight said. "I think we need to have the courage to do what we need to do know and prioritize the infrastructure of the communities that exist."

The Source: FOX 13’s Kimberly Kuizon collected the information in this story courtesy of Tifanny Laughlin, Allison Cavallaro, Spencer Anderson, and Tom Knight.

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