Fla. Senator’s bill aims to mitigate flooding by requiring storm drain inspections
According to ABC Action News, Florida state senator Danny Burgess has proposed a bill that would require stormwater drain inspections ahead of storm season in an effort to mitigate flooding.
Residents are still recovering from the impacts of flooding across the Tampa Bay region and beyond during Hurricane Milton and Tropical Storm Debby, ABC Action News reported.
Sen. Burgess’ has personally been affected, as his Zephyrhills neighborhood flooded last year. Water had to be pumped from the neighborhood due to drainage issues.
Now, Burgess is trying to be proactive. A bill he filed ahead of the upcoming legislative session would require cities and counties to inspect storm infrastructure, such as drains, canals, culverts, and ponds, ahead of hurricane season each year.
Burgess hopes the accountability measure will spur cities and counties to fix any problems and unclog any blockages they identify. Burgess believes problems with infrastructure likely contributed to some of the recent flooding. If passed, his bill — Senate Bill 810 — would also create a paper trail so the state can verify those inspections are happening.
Burgess expects his bill will get bipartisan support in Tallahassee.
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