TAMPA, Fla. — The city of Tampa just received nearly one million dollars in federal funding to help pay for a new stormwater pipe in South Tampa. It’s one of four projects the city is working on to relieve flooding.
When dark clouds roll over, people in South Tampa like Chad McCluskey prepare for flooding.
“The water will accumulate. Then, it makes its way here either by just the general flow, direction of gravity,” McCluskey said.
McCluskey owns Four Corners Custom Framing. He knows all about flash flooding. His store has been on the corner of south Manhattan and El Prado Blvd. for 12 years.
“We keep everything off the ground. Everything is on risers or easels,” McCluskey said.
U.S. representative Kathy Castor said the problem is only getting worse.
“The infrastructure was not built decades ago to withstand these extreme rain events and flooding,” Rep. Castor said.
It's an issue McCluskey and others in the area can't escape.
“Just in an average rainstorm, there are neighborhoods that flood out and residents can't get out of their driveways to go about their business and so we are addressing that,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
“We were successful in taking care of lake Henderson now we're on to Lake Vasconia,” said Vik Bhide with the City of Tampa.
The entire project will be $11 million.
It consists of a new stormwater pipe, just under a mile long, that will help drain water from the area faster to the basin.
The city hopes to start the project later this year and wants it done by spring of 2026.