After Hurricane Ian displaced residents from the Good Samaritan Society community in Central Florida, Osceola County has approved a federally funded review of local flood risks.
Here's what to know
According to WKMG ClickOrlando, officials were seeking $2.5 million in federal support for a study of the Reedy Creek and Shingle Creek basins that would examine how water travels through the area and which roads face the greatest flooding threat.
Commissioners reviewed the item on the County Commission consent agenda at an Oct. 5 meeting and said they adopted and approved the proposal.
County records referenced by WKMG say the study would analyze water movement across the area, single out roads with high flood vulnerability, and compare project options meant to reduce damage from future storms.
More background
The request was especially important for the Good Samaritan Society community, where Ian flooding forced residents to evacuate and relocate to a nearby hotel with FEMA's help.
Resident Nicholas Marks, who was there during the storm, described the destruction. "Oh, it's terrible. Devastating," he said. "Most of this place was flooded about four foot, 3 to 4 feet of water," he said, recalling conditions inside the community after the storm overwhelmed the area.
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He also remembered the emergency response that followed, with airboats and rescue crews helping residents reach safety after the water rose.
Because the Reedy Creek and Shingle Creek basins influence how stormwater flows through parts of Osceola County, a formal review could help officials determine where water stacks up, which travel routes face the most risk, and what infrastructure work could best limit future damage.
What's being done?
The effort would focus on two goals laid out in county documents: understanding how water moves through the Reedy Creek and Shingle Creek basins and identifying projects that could reduce future flooding impacts.
Marks said he hopes the study leads to meaningful help for the community and opens the door to assistance.
"It will be a major blessing for that. Absolutely. And I really hope that it would work out so they can get assistance," Marks said.
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