My Life on The Lake

The Ongoing Flood Crisis in Lakeland, Florida- by Courtney Kraft

 

In late spring and early summer of 2024, residents of Lakeland, Florida, began experiencing severe flooding and sewage issues. As water levels continued to rise with Hurricanes Debbie and Helene, concerns grew. Residents living near Lake Bonny, Little Lake Bonny, and Lake Parker repeatedly reached out to the City of Lakeland and the Polk County government for assistance. In previous years, local officials had drained the lakes to prevent flooding—but in 2024, they did nothing.Then came Hurricane Milton. Just hours before it made landfall, hundreds—if not thousands—of homes were already flooded. Families were forced to escape through windows, wading through thigh- and waist-deep water to reach safety.

​

After the storm, as thousands of residents were displaced, the City of Lakeland made a shocking decision: to flood already devastated areas further. Officials chose to drain Lake Mirror—not to help with disaster relief, but to prepare for a car show scheduled the following week. At a November 2024 city commission meeting, Mayor Muntz was caught on camera admitting that he allowed additional flooding in Lake Bonny neighborhoods because they were “already flooded” and the car show needed to continue since it brought revenue to the city.

Since then, the City of Lakeland has done little to help its residents recover. No flood prevention plans have been put in place for the upcoming hurricane season, and five months after Hurricane Milton, hundreds of people remain displaced or are living in unfinished, damaged homes. The lakes remain dangerously high, yet officials refuse to take action.

​

Many residents never had flood insurance because their homes weren’t considered to be in a flood zone. In 2016, FEMA changed the flood zone designation from AE to X, leading homeowners to believe they weren’t at risk. Now, insurance companies are denying claims, arguing that policies only cover water damage from broken pipes—not flooding. Even hurricane policies are being rejected, with insurers claiming the destruction was caused by flooding, not the storm itself.

FEMA has been another hurdle. Inspectors were not allowed to enter flooded homes for over a month, leaving many residents without immediate assistance. Some still haven’t received any aid, while others have been given only minimal financial support. FEMA continues to direct residents to local and county governments for help—but unlike surrounding cities and counties, Polk County has done nothing for its citizens.

​

As another hurricane season approaches, residents remain in limbo—still recovering, still displaced, and still ignored by the very officials meant to protect them.