Bay News 9 Man clears ditch

This video highlights the frustrations of South Tampa residents facing recurring drainage and flooding issues, which they state have persisted despite recent weather events like Hurricane Milton.

• Resident Action: Frustrated by the lack of effective city maintenance, local resident James Adair has taken it upon himself to manually clear a 24-inch storm drain that serves dozens of homes.

• The Community Impact: Adair and his neighbors feel the city is failing to address these infrastructure problems, even though they pay storm water fees.

• Prevention vs. Reaction: Having recently invested $100,000 into repairing his home after Hurricane Milton, Adair is focusing on preventative measures to avoid future flooding while waiting for official city intervention.

• City Response: When reached for comment, officials from the City of Tampa stated that crews are regularly clearing drains and maintain that the system is in good condition overall.