Just about anyone who lives near water was concerned this weekend about potential flooding.
Homeowners off of Old Whiskey Creek, along the Caloosahatchee, were spared by the wrath of Debby but they and others say they're seeing their neighborhoods flood more often than in the past.
Bruce Bacon’s home was destroyed during Hurricane Ian and continues to build back since the storm. Many of his neighbors whose homes were destroyed never returned.
“Sunday was a real worry for at least three or four hours; water was up in the yard and lapping at the base of the house,” Bacon described.
Bacon has lived in the same home since the 1970s and has seen more flooding just recently.
“New development has made the situation worse because the lots on either side of us get filled in, and all the water runs through our lot,” Bacon said.
A similar story unfolded less than 10 miles to the south in Island Park, an area destroyed by Ian, which continues to see flooded streets and yards during heavy rains.
The community doesn’t sit along the river but rather sits along 10 Mile Canal, which resembled a river over the weekend and into Monday.
The canal begins in downtown Fort Myers and serves as a drainage for properties along the way.
Conrad Anklam has lived here in Island Park for years and has also seen more flooding.
“I think if they continue to developing and sending water here it's just going to be an ongoing problem,” Anklam said.
Jerry Christensen has lost many of his neighbors who moved after Hurricane Ian ravaged the community and he says the recent heavy rains have left a lot of people, including his wife, worried about remaining in the area.
“There is probably a good 15% of the neighborhood that sold afterwards and didn't even remodel and just moved out,” Christensen said.
Many homes like the one located next to Bruce Bacon are empty. The owners never returned and Bacon says the risk has made the properties almost impossible to sell.
“Somebody who could afford to buy this could demolish it and put in fill and build like the mansion over there,” Bacon concluded.