The metropolis of St. Pete Beach is accountable for about 1,000 storm drains, which is quite a bit to clean out when It rains or storms.
One of these drains is correct in entrance of Lisa Robinson’s home. She mentioned it’s a ache when it floods.
“it backs up into my yard and you can see the high tide mark in the yard,” she mentioned. “all the debris comes up into my yard.”
City commissioner Mark Grill understands. This is the time of 12 months once they get that life interrupting flooding.
“We have areas that are three feet above flood level and others that go to 11 feet above flood level,” Grill mentioned.
Some, like Robinson, have taken upon themselves to clean the drains out.
“It helps me,” Robinson mentioned.
Now Commissioner Grill is trying to making it an official St. Pete Beach program, by adopting the county’s program, which is known as “Adopt A Drain.” Residents who join volunteer to be accountable for cleansing out storm drains after it rains.
“There’s really nothing we can do about flooding,” Grill mentioned. “But our storm drains are very important in controlling flooding as well as from an environmental standpoint.”
Volunteers can be given a security vest, cones, and luggage to use when cleansing out the drains. They may even be requested to report once they see somebody dumping trash, oil, sewage, or chemical substances within the drains.
“This is part of good community service,” mentioned Grill.
The county has a coaching video that volunteers should watch earlier than signing up. It’s 35 minutes lengthy.
St. Pete Beach leaders are trying into utilizing that video, however Grill mentioned he desires to see if they will use a shorter model of the video.
“We are asking to see if that’s possible,” mentioned Grill.
City employees is engaged on a plan. Grill mentioned he hopes to have this system, launched throughout the subsequent 30 days or so.
“I don’t see any big roadblocks in the way,” Grill mentioned.