[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6269597,"mediaKeyId","3042074-1fc0a4b7965f632bf4767379c647702b","parentId",3042074,"title","Tampa details watershed planning, neighborhood fixes and homeowner options after last season's storms","audioSeconds",1145,"startMs",1238000,"endMs",2383000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042074-1fc0a4b7965f632bf4767379c647702b&start=1238&end=2383","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042074-1fc0a4b7965f632bf4767379c647702b/thumbnail_1238000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269597/Tampa/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Tampa-details-watershed-planning-neighborhood-fixes-and-homeowner-options-after-last-seasons-storms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269597-f117c42124362754a7505d763b7ec21d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171220&Signature=JzYezga4o83pyRa7KyjBkrhDAYHrRR3BZXcS59WZ0~u2LduiEzXPLY7GhEWtVUcL9JVkQW8WxIIU3QrMoiHUBbTm0HvD8E7Yg9TX2YCqkI3GsAvuFR~HGV8AD~PxlBxZd0jbmnjUu0gqUf~5UawLGdak-~~sJM8W872-JIQKPmRTvQoVLk3FD~7ynYmKMtYUlwgE-FJg5kpP1bv3t5Ht-ETzn7Ew4y2iFIKTdstcBkQhNN9WXqRXc5e9VD~XOH7NDK~lqGZur4CaN3E0jKHYqf~2kMu58h1k95Fm3r-~42aEpC7F2JEuXVfGGj546tiCFL-7jr3LNbc0eAu7MHKhPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Tampa, FL","date","2025-04-17T11:01:30Z","article","City of Tampa stormwater engineers used a public town hall to outline longer-term planning and neighborhood strategies intended to reduce flood risk citywide and to explain what residents can do to protect property.

\"A citywide watershed master planning effort is currently underway to get a better feeling about the flood risks and identify future improvement projects,\" said Yuan Li, head of stormwater engineering. Li said the watershed planning work is intended to inform future capital projects and policies and to provide data that could help residents with flood insurance discounts through FEMA's Community Rating System. City staff said the current CRS discount is 25 percent and that the watershed effort could help secure an additional 10 percent discount for residents once completed.

Officials stressed that stormwater management crosses jurisdictional boundaries and requires coordination with Hillsborough County. \"Some basins go across both the county and the city with the city being the downstream receiving stormwater from the county,\" Li said, adding that Mobility leadership meets quarterly with county public‑works officials and that the county has engaged an independent firm for a post‑hurricane regional assessment.

On localized measures, stormwater staff described a mix of micro projects — inlet widening, additional grates, added piping, and resurfacing — in neighborhoods such as Palmasia Pines and Parkland Estates to produce near‑term relief while larger capital projects proceed. The Lower Peninsula and Southeast Seminole Heights projects were cited as completed or near completion, and staff noted several ongoing projects including MacDill 48.

Engineers also discussed technical fixes: Alex Awad (stormwater engineer) said the city has installed about nine flap gates/check valves where appropriate to reduce bay or tidal backflow into local storm systems, but warned such devices require a certain head (water level difference) to operate and can affect outflow during heavy rain. \"We have installed approximately 9 check valves or flap gates,\" Awad said. Staff said they evaluate sites case by case and have requests under review for additional locations.

To protect water quality, Chief Design Engineer Jeff DeBosier described programs and design features the department uses: street sweeping to remove debris and nutrients before they enter waterways, inlet baskets, rain gardens, pervious pavement in capital projects, and underground baffle boxes that capture silt and floating debris for later removal. DeBosier said material collected in cleaning operations is hauled offsite to appropriate disposal facilities.

City staff encouraged homeowner actions where feasible: Jeffrey DeBosier noted that some riverfront residents have had success with waterproofing or temporary sandbags but that raising homes above FEMA coastal flood levels is the most permanent option. \"There’s really no easy solution to the storm surge situation in Tampa,\" DeBosier said; residents were told to weigh cost and feasibility when considering elevation or reconstruction.

Information and public materials: staff pointed residents to quarterly stormwater reports and new monthly maintenance reports on tampa.gov/mobility/stormwater and to project websites such as lpstormwater.com for the Lower Peninsula work. The department also publicized a post‑disaster redevelopment plan meeting scheduled April 29 at the Hanna Center.

What officials did not promise: no regulatory changes were announced at the town hall and large projects remain contingent on funding and interagency coordination. Staff emphasized the watershed plan will identify options but that implementing some measures will require additional resources and approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Stormwater 101 Virtual Town Hall","oneSentenceSummary","City engineers described a citywide watershed master plan, potential FEMA flood insurance discounts, cross-jurisdiction coordination with Hillsborough County, and neighborhood‑level micro projects. Staff recommended homeowners consider elevation where feasible and described check valve use and green infrastructure.","taxTitle","Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida","taxId",2914,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269602,"Tampa to deploy temporary generators at pump stations; generators to be ready June 1, city says",2936,496000,3432000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042074-1fc0a4b7965f632bf4767379c647702b&start=496&end=3432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042074-1fc0a4b7965f632bf4767379c647702b/thumbnail_496000.jpg","/articles/6269602/Tampa/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Tampa-to-deploy-temporary-generators-at-pump-stations-generators-to-be-ready-June-1-city-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269602-1fea113d21e63477ec6cb3873d71f408/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171220&Signature=B7OF5MmhKun1Qp~Ykkc5f9SjNlwSJhMfd-bbwtwsE2Lrfw9-3DnhGwRT1Uboio2jvLKRBCGEDw6Lm48ZlfosD0R5p~R-Y9YCd0Rkmd06IUIb3CftT9dJ4AHy4iIDWvCFQLz0l9Lfg0-XBbHQgzywQsTW5cYttPkn1EkJ6yJWLCz4FSJuoO5tFJ2W15pQ92ZiFAY0NBf~iMCU-ulR7eTZdVt9ke04V6GCXOpxDnPHpnN4sxc66OdQ3LbhGhPuz8YVMIpBcpuB9khlf7i-ffU5daaR36ieazfLsnzpV3GKcn4pd07KFzsOEqI5sbn7It4tfLnhfm19RSK~11VTDM-zxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tampa officials told residents at a Stormwater 101 virtual town hall that temporary backup generators will be available for stormwater pump stations beginning June 1 as part of preparations for the 2025 storm season. Mobility Director Vic Bede and Mobility Operations Manager Brian Roger said the city is completing retrofits to pump stations so they can accept portable generators and will test hookups in May.

The announcement follows last year's heavy storm season. \"We do not prevent all flooding,\" said Josh Cascio, Communications Coordinator for the City of Tampa Mobility Department. \"Tampa will never not flood, but it's our job to do all we can to maximize our systems' functions and make the most impactful improvements possible using the limited resources that we have.\" The city is emphasizing readiness rather than eliminating all flooding risk.

Brian Roger said the pump-station retrofit work is scheduled to be finished by May 1, with generator hookup testing during May and readiness by June 1. \"We're also gonna be transferring power to the generators proactively and manually before the storm gets to us,\" Roger said, describing plans to deploy a pump station response team to activate generators and coordinate fueling. He said a vendor storing generators will deliver and hook up units within about 24 hours after a request.

City officials said permanent backup generators and additional equipment are planned for installation within two years and that $11,000,000 in funding is already in place for that work. The department has also taken immediate procurement steps: officials said two emergency affidavits were executed recently to address a backlog of storm-related cave-ins and other urgent repairs, with the total value of those affidavits discussed during the meeting.

The Mobility Department described its maintenance capacity in detail: 62 full‑time stormwater operations employees in the field, roughly 22–23 full‑time engineers and planners, five vacuum trucks, a television inspection truck for pipes, and a regular street‑sweeping program. Operations staff maintain nearly 600 miles of pipes and culverts, roughly 80 miles of ditches and canals, 886 outfalls, 148 retention ponds, and more than 28,000 inlets and manholes. The department said it handled about 3,700 calls for service related to stormwater in 2024.

As part of readiness, staff will \"pump down\" certain overflow ponds before storms to create additional capacity, Roger said, but warned they will not be completely dry. Officials also described micro projects (inlets, grates, localized piping) in neighborhoods such as Palmasia Pines and Parkland Estates intended to provide near‑term relief while larger capital projects continue.

How residents can reach the department: Tampa mobility/stormwater resources and monthly maintenance reports are posted at tampa.gov/mobility/stormwater, and stormwater requests can be made at (813) 274-3101. The department plans to publish answers to additional submitted questions on its website within about 7–10 days after the meeting.

What officials did not announce: no formal city council votes or ordinance changes were taken during the town hall; the event was informational and focused on operations, planned procurement, and ongoing capital projects.","The City of Tampa's Mobility Department said temporary generators will be available for stormwater pump stations on June 1 after retrofits are completed by May 1, and the city has $11 million set aside for permanent backup generators to be installed within two years.","actionData","errors"]

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Tampa details watershed planning, neighborhood fixes and homeowner options after last season's storms

Tampa to deploy temporary generators at pump stations; generators to be ready June 1, city says