Got flooding? The town of Longboat Key wants to know

The town of Longboat Key is seeking resident reports of recurring flooding in the low-lying areas of Sleepy Lagoon, Buttonwood and the Village. 

According to posts on the town’s social media pages, anyone who experienced flooding during Hurricane Debby is encouraged to share information to the town, especially those living in the three low-lying areas. 

Residents are asked to share details such as water depth from intrusion into homes and garages to the town by Aug. 30.  

The town is  working with the state on several grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HGMP). 

“All this information will be used to support these grant applications,” said Assistant Public Works Director Charlie Mopps.

The grants are for upcoming drainage improvement projects in Sleepy Lagoon, Buttonwood and the Village. The projects include elements like increased road elevation and additional drainage structures. 

In April, the estimated costs were about $8.5 million for the Sleepy Lagoon project, $5 million for Buttonwood and an undetermined amount for the Village. First on the list is a project for Norton Street in Sleepy Lagoon.

The HGMP is a program that helps projects that assist in “rebuilding after a major disaster in a way that reduces future disaster losses,” according to FEMA. These grants are associated with past emergencies. In this case, the grants are related to Hurricanes Ian and Idalia. 

Mopps said that while the town is working on these grants, the state needs to develop a cost-benefit analysis model, and part of the necessary information is showing the repetitive impact of flooding. That’s where resident reports are important. 

To submit details and photos to the town by Aug. 30, residents can email Mopps at [email protected] and Grants Coordinator Kalee Shaberts at [email protected].