Flood-displaced Martin County residents demanded action at Tuesday morning’s commission meeting, describing damaged homes and questioning the county’s response. County leaders said they plan to review the county’s warning system and revisit the flooding at their next meeting, with updates and discussion of a potential grant program.
Resident Lisa French described how the flooding had displaced her household. “Today, we’re homeless. We have nowhere to have Christmas. We don’t have much to come home to.” Jensen Beach resident Mary Berner said she had raised her family and built her life there over 40 years before watching what they had worked for become submerged in flood water and sewage.
Some residents questioned whether drainage infrastructure and development contributed to the flooding. Yamila Rollan Escalona, with the Yaya por Vida Foundation, raised concerns about response efforts. Resident Kyle Pond called on commissioners to make additional funding available to county staff that day to address the emergency.
County leaders said crews are pumping water around the clock. They also said they would explore ways to reduce future flood risks once the immediate flooding is addressed. Proposed approaches include having one agency, such as the South Florida Water Management District, manage the nearby Savannas as a single watershed and exploring additional drainage options.
Commissioner Sarah Heard addressed residents’ demands: “Jensen Beach residents, we’ve heard you loud and clear. You are our top priority.” The county’s stated plans call for a warning-system review, while the potential grant program remains a topic for discussion at the next meeting.