To decrease the water levels at Lake Bonny, the City of Lakeland will be adding an additional pump as a TEST to see if it provides additional relief for Lake Bonny.
Water levels are dropping faster in Lake Parker than Lake Bonny. This is causing the water level in the Canal Street conveyance ditch to lower in conjunction with Lake Parker. Lake Parker’s drop in water elevation has allowed the City pump to operate at maximum capacity. The City has been granted permission to install a temporary pump that will add more water volume into the system to help increase flows from Lake Bonny into Lake Parker. The secondary pump can move up to 4,500 gallons of water per minute. The secondary pump will start at idle speed and ramp up slowly with supervision from the Southwest Florida Water Management (SWFWMD) and the City of Lakeland. The system will be monitored to make sure the conveyance ditch and underground plumbing can accommodate the additional outflow. Initial operation of the secondary pump will be a test. If the operation of the pump is successful without any adverse impacts, pump capacity will be increased. However, if there are adverse conditions, the secondary pump will be taken offline. On October 23, 2024, the Army Corps of Engineers began operating two pumps at Lake Bonny with a combined total output of 5,600 gallons per minute. The strategy has closed a portion of Main Street to run above ground pipe from Lake Bonny to a stormwater outflow on North Gary Road. The stormwater system discharges to Lake Parker and flows to Lake Hancock before being discharged to the Peace River. The SWFWMD oversees and manages water bodies that flow to the Peace River. With the installation of the new pump, there will now be four high-capacity industrial pumps moving water from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker. At the request of the State of Florida and FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will continue to collect Right of Entry (ROE) forms for Operation Blue Roof through Thursday, Nov. 14, extending the original deadline by nine days. Homeowners impacted by Hurricane Milton can sign-up for this FREE service at BlueRoof.gov or by calling toll free 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258).
The program provides a temporary solution that protects a homeowner’s property and allows them to remain in their home. Though commonly misreferred to as a “tarp,” this is fiber-reinforced, industrial-strength sheeting that is well-suited to protect storm-damaged roofs until homeowners can make permanent repairs. To date the Army Corps has received 463 ROE forms from Polk County residents. Of those, 415 of those have been reviewed and approved, and 281 blue roofs have been installed. Applying for the program requires a Right of Entry, or ROE, form, which allows USACE access to a homeowner’s property to their home's damage. The ROE also allows contracted crews to complete the Blue Roof installation. Not all roof types qualify for the program. Check www.BlueRoof.gov for details. The Florida Department of Financial Services' (DFS) Check My Contract service designed to assist residential or commercial property insurance policyholders who have entered into a repair contract with contractors, restoration professionals, or public adjusters related to an insurance claim.
Check My Contract allows these policyholders to submit repair contracts to DFS for independent review to gather any potential evidence of insurance fraud against Florida policyholders, especially following storms and ensure the contract complies with Florida Law. The Department will review:
Aerial spraying for mosquitoes in Polk County was originally scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 25-27; due to delays, spraying is scheduled to begin tonight at 8 p.m. and stop Thursday morning. There will be no aerial spraying for mosquitoes on Halloween, Thursday, Oct. 31. Due to the acreage being covered, it is necessary to spray multiple days. Spraying will resume the night of Friday, Nov.1.
Spraying is scheduled from dusk to dawn; approximately 8 p.m. through 5 a.m., while most residents are indoors. The decision for aerial spraying was made due to the overwhelming increase in the mosquito population, with the advisement of county health officials and in direct response to residents’ recent requests. Residents may notice low-flying aircraft applying a low volume of insecticides approved for mosquito control. Should you have any questions or concerns about aerial spraying, please contact Polk County Mosquito Control at (863) 534-7377. While most of Polk County’s parks and boat ramps have reopened following Hurricane Milton, some areas remain closed to the public or have limited access. Sections of environmental lands and stormwater sites may still be wet or underwater.
Opening:
The following environmental lands sites will remain closed until further notice:
The following parks are hurricane debris collection sites and will remain closed for public safety until further notice:
If you have questions about these closures, contact Polk County’s Parks and Natural Resources Division at (863) 534-7377. Key Messages
FAQ of the Day: Is my vacation home covered? No, FEMA can provide disaster assistance only for a primary residence. Second homes, vacation homes or homes used as vacation rentals (AirBnB/VRBO) do not qualify for FEMA assistance. FEMA is Hiring FEMA is hiring more than 600 local hire positions in Gainesville, Melbourne Beach, Sarasota and Tallahassee, Florida. Local Hire employees are typically local residents who aid in the recovery of their community and help fellow neighbors in the recovery process. Visit USAJobs.gov, type “Local Hire” in the keywords section and “Florida” for location. Operation Blue Roof The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is installing fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs to damaged homes across affected Florida communities. The service is free and the initial sign-up period ends Nov. 5. Florida Residents affected by Hurricane Milton can sign-up at www.blueroof.gov, by calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258), or by visiting a Right-of-Entry collection center throughout the affected areas. Disaster Recovery Centers Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hernando, Indian River, Madison, Manatee, Martin, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie, Suwanee and Taylor counties. Additional locations will continue opening in the coming days. To find center locations go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. Survivors do not need to visit a center to apply for assistance. Survivors are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA App. FEMA does not distribute cash at Disaster Recovery Centers. Transitional Sheltering Assistance FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for Floridians displaced by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton in 52 counties and for tribal members of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians. Residents in these counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA. Applicants do not need to request TSA. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. Survivors who have been approved for TSA can find hotel options here: Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) Serious Needs Assistance Serious Needs Assistance is money to pay for emergency supplies like water, food, first aid, breast-feeding supplies, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, or fuel for transportation. Serious Needs Assistance is available for survivors who apply during the first 30 days after a disaster is declared. If you don’t agree with FEMA’s decision, you can appeal by showing why you need FEMA assistance. The decision letter you get from FEMA will have more information about the types of documents you should send. Learn more about Serious Needs Assistance. U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and other sources. Apply online at SBA.gov/disaster. Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. SBA Business Recovery Centers are open in Hillsborough and Manatee counties. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. How to Apply for FEMA Assistance If you sustained damage or loss from Hurricanes Milton, Helene or Debby, FEMA may be able to help. You may be eligible for financial assistance for displacement, serious needs, temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured disaster-related expenses.
Additional Resources Clean & Sanitize: FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup. Clean and Sanitize Assistance | FEMA.gov. Multi-Agency Resource Centers: Florida Division of Emergency Management and local communities are establishing these centers to assist residents with storm recovery. FEMA specialists are available at most centers. FEMA & Citizenship: You or a member of your household must be U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national or qualified non-citizen to apply for FEMA assistance. Be Alert to Fraud: Con artists and criminals may try to obtain money or steal personal information through fraud or identity theft after disasters. Be Alert to Fraud After Florida Hurricanes | FEMA.gov FEMA Rumor Response: Know what’s true and what isn’t. Hurricane Rumor Response | FEMA.gov Mental health resources for Floridians For help with cleanup: Call 833-GET HOPE Tips for Mold Cleanup Florida Division of Emergency Management Updates: floridadisaster.org/disaster-updates/storm-updates/ Disaster Legal Hotline: 833-514-2940 FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have collaborated to create a guide to help local businesses affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton access recovery resources. The agencies created a one-stop-shop resource with information about multiple kinds of federal support that is available to assist local businesses with their recovery. The guide—tailored for each affected state—is available on FEMA’s website at the links below:
Many local business owners are also disaster survivors. This means they’re dealing with two separate recoveries, one for their household and another for their business. Recovery for local businesses after events like Helene and Milton may seem daunting. FEMA encourages chambers of commerce and other civic organizations to share this guide to help local businesses recover. Below are examples of the resources available to local businesses and their owners:
A full list of more than 70 resources from 17 federal agencies is available on disasterassistance.gov. President Biden has declared a major disaster for six states affected by Helene--Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia—and Florida for Milton. FEMA reminds survivors affected by hurricanes Helene or Milton that they can apply for FEMA assistance in four ways: online at disasterassistance.gov, on the FEMA App, calling 800-621-3362, or in person at a local Disaster Recovery Center. Contact Us If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:
Follow Us Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Español on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on X @FEMA_Deanne. FEMA Mission Helping people before, during, and after disasters. Flooding along the edge of Lake Seward has severely damaged homes and prevented access to others. In coordination with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Polk County has put a plan in place to direct water away from Lake Seward to Banana Lake, ultimately flowing into Lake Hancock.
The Lake Seward Flood Relief Plan consists of the following:
Pumping is expected to move water off Lake Seward and should provide relief to the residents who are currently flooded, or otherwise are unable to safely reach their homes. There is a concentrated effort taking place to mitigate the flooding that has happened around Lake Bonny. The lake is swollen above typical levels due to heavy rains experienced with Tropical Storm Debbie, Hurricane Helene and most recently Hurricane Milton.
The City of Lakeland, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Polk County, the City of Bartow, US Army Corp of Engineers, and the State of Florida collaborated to assist residents living around the flooded lake. The US Army Corp of Engineers has provided two industrial water pumps that are now pumping from the northwest corner of Lake Bonny. Crews have installed over 6,000 feet of industrial 12” diameter piping to direct water from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker. SWFWMD and Polk County have agreed to allow Lake Bonny outflow to be discharged into the Peace River. Staff is manning the system 24/7 to ensure it is operating and not causing unintended flooding in the vicinity of operations. A portion of Main Street is closed so above ground pipe can get flood waters from Lake Bonny to a stormwater culvert on North Gary Road. The stormwater system discharges to Lake Parker and flows to Lake Hancock before being discharged to the Peace River. The SWFWMD oversees and manages water bodies that flow to the Peace River. The overland piping will impact pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic in the area as the flood mitigation project continues. There are several road closures and detours are in place. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. Road Closures:
Due to a surge in the mosquito population from flooding caused by Hurricane Milton, Polk County Mosquito Control is working with the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services to help abate mosquitoes.
Aerial spraying for mosquitoes in Polk County has been scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 25 -27, 2024, or thereafter, weather permitting. Spraying is scheduled from dusk to dawn; approximately 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. while most residents are indoors. The decision for aerial spraying was made due to the overwhelming increase in the mosquito population, with the advisement of county health officials and in direct response to residents’ recent requests. Residents may notice low-flying aircraft applying insecticides approved for mosquito control. Should you have any questions or concerns about aerial spraying please contact Polk County Mosquito Control at (863) 534-7377. |
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