Flooding in Collier County's Poinciana Village renews worries as solution underway

An estimated 3 inches of rainfall over Poinciana Village caused county crews in Poinciana Village are working to address flooding issues that have long affected the neighborhood. "If I didn’t have a truck, I’d be a little uncomfortable being able to get out of my home," said Steven Case, a resident of Poinciana Village. "If I were disabled, I would be more concerned." Flooding has been a recurring problem for residents like Lori Gian, whose Fiat, nicknamed "Lashes," was stuck outside the neighborhood for three hours due to the water. "That’s nothing compared to the two cars that I lost in the last two hurricanes," Gian said. "That is really the issue." The Gulf Coast News weather team estimated that more than three inches of rain fell in the area last night, leaving some vehicles wheels-deep in water. The county began work in the spring to replace the drainage system and install larger pipes to address the flooding. A spokesperson for the county said the drainage flow in the low-lying area should improve as work continues. "I’m very excited about the change. However, we have to have some kind of safety net when we have these kind of downpours," Gian said. "My biggest concern is that we have between 200 and 400 kids on Halloween, and I’m unfortunately sad to say, I don’t think it’s going to be a Poinciana Village Halloween this year because they’re not going to be able to navigate through the construction." Case added, "Until they finish the project, we’re not going to see any relief." The drainage system upgrades are expected to continue into the spring of next year. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.