St. Pete secures $2M grant to improve drainage in flood-prone neighborhood
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The city of St. Petersburg said it’s secured a $2 million grant for a project aimed at improving drainage in a neighborhood prone to flooding.
When rain falls, it has a tough time going anywhere in Shore Acres, especially on Denver Street. It’s where Derek Kobel and Elaina Mitchell have been living for the last year.
“Especially down this road, down to, I believe, it’s the Bayou Grand Boulevard. We just had rain a few days ago, and it was flooded, what, a foot? A foot and a half? Super deep,” said Kobel. “Yeah, we intentionally avoid that area, so I drive around the block just to avoid the huge puddle,” said Mitchell.
Kobel told 8 On Your Side that the very first day he moved in, his neighbor told him just how bad the area can get sometimes.
“He said that he climbed out of his side window, went on the roof, the water was up to the soffit, and he was pulling his kids and dogs and everyone to stay on the roof and ride the storm,” said Kobel.
St. Pete Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersly said the city hopes the two-million-dollar grant will help improve drainage. He said the plan is to construct a seven-foot by five-foot box culvert that connects to a stormwater pump station.
“That can help move the water out of the community and then out to the bayou,” he said.
Tankersly explained how much water just one pump station can move.
“These pump stations can pump out four to five Olympic sized swimming pools in one minute. That’s a lot of water to be moving out,” he said.
Tankersly said the project is expected to be completed in late 2028, much to the dismay of Derek and Elaina.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s a little terrifying. I mean, storms, it’s not if, it’s when. I’m also a licensed public adjuster, so knowing that there are going to be storms, the only thing people can do is prepare their homes and document all their stuff,” he said.
Tankersly said the four pump stations for Shore Acres will cost roughly $100 million. He said the city has already received $55 million in HGMP grants over the last few years and has applied for 50 million more.
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