Town 'N Country residents can only watch, wait

Residents living in the Isonmon Apartments in Temple Terrace have been forced to evacuate.

That’s nearly 30 people according to Hillsborough County.  

Some bottom floor units have up to a foot of water inside. Residents tell FOX 13 a pump that should’ve been keeping the water out – hasn’t been operating up to par for the last couple years. The county tells us they’re looking into it.  

It was turned on Monday, but it was slow going.

“It’s probably going to take seven hours to pump the water down. We’ve had so much rainfall I don’t think it can keep up,” said Bill Langford with Hillsborough County Code Enforcement.

That also spelled a major problem for a Montessori school next door, it was supposed to be the first day of class, that didn’t happen. It’ll remain closed on Tuesday as well.

“We’re most worried about the equipment,” explained Lori Chehab, assistant director of the Montessori Academy of Temple Terrace.

It could be at least a day or so until folks at the school and the nearby apartments get a chance to assess the damage inside.  The water must go away first.

“Hillsborough County doesn’t like to displace people but the number one goal is life and safety,” Langford added.