MARTIN COUNTY, Fla (CBS12) — Standing water remained in parts of Indiantown on Friday after days of heavy rain flooded roads and raised renewed concerns from residents about drainage in the community.
Conditions had improved from Thursday night, when drivers navigated roads with water nearly reaching their tires in some areas. By Friday morning, the biggest issue in several spots was ponding along roadsides and sidewalks, including outside Indiantown Middle School.
Indiantown residents raise flooding concerns as standing water remains after heavy rain. (WPEC)
Henry Riggins, who has lived in Indiantown since 1968, said flooding has become a repeated concern.
“Every time it rains, every time it rains, water just comes up,” Riggins said. “Eventually, it drains down, but you know we got alligators, snakes, and stuff. And when the water come out the ditches and stuff, you got kids out here playing. No telling what lot to happen.”
Riggins said Indiantown has grown since he grew up here, but he believes the drainage system is not working properly.
“Well the community has grown with me, but for the system here, it’s not working right,” Riggins said. “They um replaced a lot of the stuff around here, like manholes and stuff like that. But instead of cleaning out the system, they never flushed it out or nothing like that. So quite naturally, you’re gonna have a back a back back up of water and stuff.”
Riggins said he drives a truck because of the standing water on local roads.
“That’s why I always drive a truck,” he said. “It’s not really gonna hurt the trucks, but the lower vehicles like this vehicle right here, or even your vehicle, the water gonna come up and come on the inside of your vehicle.”
Indiantown residents raise flooding concerns as standing water remains after heavy rain. (WPEC)
He said he believes the area needs larger drainage pipes and additional improvements.
“I think they need to come in here and do another renovation, put bigger pipes because the pipe they got is only so big,” Riggins said. “It’s only gonna carry so much water, but if they come back in here and redo everything, it’ll be a lot better.”
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The flooding is also prompting new questions about a more than $2 million stormwater drainage and roadway improvement project in the Booker Park neighborhood.
Village of Indiantown records show the $2.18 million project began in January 2022. The state provided $2 million, while the village contributed $180,000. The work included new swales and driveway culverts intended to help alleviate flooding.
Indiantown residents raise flooding concerns as standing water remains after heavy rain. (WPEC)
Residents said drainage remains a problem and believe conditions have worsened since the project began.
Village leaders held a public works and utilities workshop last Saturday to discuss concerns and possible solutions. The next Indiantown Village Council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8.
With more rain possible and the ground already saturated, residents said they are hoping conditions do not worsen over the weekend. Drivers and pedestrians are urged not to travel through floodwaters.