Cape Coral flooding forces neighbors to find new routes after heavy rain

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Cape Coral Fire is reminding people to not drive through flooded areas to protect themselves and their cars.

The warning comes after a driver was stranded in flood waters on 24th Street, near Cape Coral High School and Lowes.

Neighbors who live nearby says they experience flooding every time there's heavy rain and have started to avoid this entrance when it rains because the water can rise as high as three feet, getting into their cars and stalling their engines.

"We moved here about and bought this house about two months ago, and that flooding has happened about four times now, to where the road was literally impassable," Mark Geib said.

Geib and his wife, Esther Cetina, said they barely made it home Monday.

"I drove through it yesterday and got stuck halfway through and had to wait for a moment," they said. "We waited 20 minutes, and then I thank God my truck started up again. But it was bad."

The couple has found a different way to leave their neighborhood, even if it takes longer. They worry about their new home during future storms.

"We didn't have a hurricane yet. I mean, looks like this year we are not having one," Cetina said. "But can you imagine with a hurricane and days of rain, we will be in an island in here?"

Down the street, Fran Prego said she's been stuck in the flooding a handful of times.

"We almost didn't make it home because the water was up to the bottom of the doorway," Prego said. "But we made it. But it floods out quite frequently when the rain is heavy."

Cape Coral Fire had to help a driver Monday who was stranded in the flooding. Prego says this has been happening to people she knows for more than 40 years, ever since she moved into her home in 1985.

"He says, 'I'm stuck. My car is dead because of the water down here,' and that was probably about over 20 years ago that occurred, but it happens quite frequently," Prego said.

Neighbors say they now avoid driving on 24th Street.

"I have things delivered to me," Prego said. "So, I try not to get caught in the rainstorms when we have them."

The city said during the recent rain event, the area near Cape Coral High School reportedly received approximately 2.5 inches of rain in about one hour and 20 minutes.

"We would appreciate it if the city could figure out a way to get that thing a drain," Geib said.

As a follow-up, the city said stormwater staff will inspect the drainage system serving the area, including the system that runs from behind Target toward the canal near the tennis courts at 2nd Court. The inspection will help verify that the system is functioning properly and determine whether any maintenance is needed.

If residents need to report flooding or drainage concerns, they can report it here.