My Life on The Lake
Exploring Lake Bonny Community Life
in the aftermath of a catastrophic event
Our Story
On October 10, 2024 my once thriving community found itself under flood conditions. The higher than normal lake levels from previous storms, human error and systemic failure, all combined to form the perfect conditions for a natural disaster and were driven ashore by a storm called Milton. Soon Lake Bonny was in our homes, uninvited. This is the story of my community that, prior to that fateful day, lived in our own micro-communities next door and across the street from each other. Over the weeks that followed we connected with our neighbors on the lake, many we had never met. We found common ground and a common enemy beginning with the City of Lakeland, Florida.
Our Mission
"My Life on The Lake" will follow the evolution of the "Citizens for Flood Prevention-Lake Bonny" a formidable group of residents determined to keep our story in the limelight. As we continue to meet with multiple agencies to discuss strategies for preventing another catastrophic event, we will advocate for changes in the outdated standard operating procedures, such as monitoring of the lake levels and upgrading and maintenance of an antiquated system that struggles to support a vastly growing city. We hope to establish an oversight committee composed of community representatives, independent experts, and local officials to ensure long-term compliance with recommendations. Finally, we hope to set a precedent for other communities who may someday find themselves in the same situation.
Our Vision
While life on the lake has seen dramatic changes since the flood, from devastating property damage, traumatic personal loss and the loss of security and trust in our local agencies and the people who lead them, here we hope to foster a sense of connection between residents and neighboring communities, and to introduce the Lake Bonny story to the world, not just as a story of disaster, but one of recovery and healing. Most of all, we want to celebrate our local heroes, not the elected officials with celebrity status, but the regular folks who rose to meet the challenges and fulfill the needs of their fellow man. This is their story.
