People living along Wildcat Drive in Fort Myers face ongoing struggles as flooding leaves them with damaged roads. The private road just off State Road 82 was almost completely submerged, making it a daily challenge to navigate for weeks.
Fed up with spending loads of money to repair the same road, locals have been using their own time and money to fix it. They’ve been dumping dirt and rocks to make the road more passable. They've even brought in excavators to dig ditches and coordinate the repairs. Many are growing frustrated with the constant need for temporary fixes.
Jill Tenkate, who’s lived on Wildcat Drive since 2014, describes how the road looked the day after Tropical Storm Debby hit last week.
“It wasn’t even like a flowing river; it looked like a lake," Tenkate said.
She’s had her share of problems, too, with damage to her car making things even more difficult.
“I couldn’t get out with my car, and now I have a drain in my battery,” she said.
So far, about 55 loads of dirt and rock have been dumped but more is expected to come. Neighbors are planning to meet sometime next week to discuss long-term solutions.
They are working to file a petition with the Lee County Municipal Service Taxing Units to get more support.