LAKELAND, Fla. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed pumps in Lake Bonny Wednesday to help ease flooding in nearby neighborhoods.

Homes in the area were still underwater two weeks after Hurricane Milton dropped massive amounts of rain on the area.

What You Need To Know

  • Pumps installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are meant to move water from Lake Bonny to a tributary of the Peace River

  • The goal is to reduce flooding to neighborhoods near Lake Bonny, where some homes were still underwater as of Wednesday

  • One resident said he'll be happy to see water levels drop, but noted the move was too little, too late for some people whose homes were badly damaged

  • PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘We have nowhere to live’: Lake Bonny residents voice frustrations over flooding

“Purpose for this is to lower the lake so that the water that’s currently impacting the community will recede back into Lake Bonny and take those water levels down to where they can begin their recovery process,” said Major Matthew Westcott, deputy commander of the Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Westcott said the corps received a call Tuesday from the Southwest Florida Water Management District asking for help in the area. He said pumps will move water from the lake to a tributary of the Peace River about 9,000 ft. away.

“There’s a lot of water here to move. I brought the biggest pumps that I have on stock here. That should be enough to start moving that water as quickly as possible,” Westcott said.

“It’s a huge relief to be able to do something as drastic as necessary,” said Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz, who came out to watch corps members work Wednesday afternoon. 

Mutz said the effort was made possible through collaboration among city departments and other partners, including City Manager Shawn Sherrouse, Public Works Director Heath Frederick and his team, and Florida Rep. Jennifer Canady.

“What we have happening here is a solution that everybody’s weighed in on and says, ‘This can happen. This can work, and we can not threaten something else downstream,’” Mutz said.

For some impacted by the flooding, the arrival of the pumps brought up mixed emotions.

“I’m grateful for the response that the city did make. However, the other side of me standing in front of my house that’s still sitting in water — we’re on day number 13 here, okay? And I’m sorry, but too little, too late,” said Chad Smith.

Smith and his wife, Pamela, told Spectrum News Milton left their home near Lake Bonny uninhabitable, filled with flood water and sewage. They were among the residents who pleaded for help from leaders at a city commission meeting Monday. 

“There are no words to verbalize to your friends, family and loved ones to say exactly how it’s like,” Smith said.

He said his family found out Wednesday their homeowners insurance claim was denied. They don’t have flood insurance, and Smith said he’s not sure what comes next.

“I got that woman right there and that daughter right there that I have to provide for,” he said, gesturing to his family. “I have to be the man of the house and say, ‘Look, it’s horrible circumstances, horrible situations, but I need to find a way to find a home for my family and figure out how to rebuild this one.’”

The Smiths said they’re also frustrated the city didn’t respond sooner to concerns about an emergency pump in the area. Commissioners previously told Spectrum News a pump moving water from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker was working, just not as effectively as needed. Going forward, Smith said he’d like to see the city come up with a more solid solution for flooding and make other changes to help neighbors.

“How about we let the citizens know that topographically, you are going to flood in a catastrophic event? And that means you should carry flood insurance and you should be in a flood plain,” Smith said. “If we would have known that as citizens, we would have been better prepared for this tragedy.”

Westcott said residents should begin to see results from the pumps on Thursday or Friday.