St. Lucie County residents demanded drainage improvements and answers about the county’s flood response at Tuesday night’s Board of County Commissioners meeting after last week’s historic flooding. Dozens spoke during public comment, criticizing the county’s response and calling for improved retention and drainage systems to prevent future disasters.
“I lost everything; I’m a 73-year-old widow,” one resident said. Another woman said she had been living in a motel since last Monday and had to return home from vacation because of the flooding. “We don’t need another explanation on how historic this rainfall was. We need to make sure this never happens again,” another resident said.
The meeting also raised questions about the school district’s decision to keep schools open during Monday’s flooding. The district is expected to address those concerns at its meeting next Tuesday.