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Community meeting held in Forest Hills area after pump backup generators failed, causing homes to flood

Community meeting held in Forest Hills area after pump backup generators failed, causing homes to flood
Forest Hills meeting
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TAMPA, Fla — There were many frustrated community members in Forest Hills Neighborhood on Wednesday night.

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera and other local leaders met with people who live there after many homeowners saw historic flooding.

The neighborhood is in Zone-X on the flood map, meaning it's an area with a "moderate to low risk for flooding."

The City of Tampa's director of mobility, Vik Bhide, told residents that the backup generator for one pump station at Curiosity Creek did not work when the power went out during the storm.

A second pump station also had the same issue and failed.

Tonight, Councilman Viera said There needs to be an investigation into how this happened.

He wants to propose a committee to look into this issue.

Hillsborough County says water has now receded in the area.

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"I cried, of course, because I've worked very hard getting it nice, which has been difficult for me since I lost my husband and being alone,” Kelly Welty said.
Welty's mobile home lost its roof during Hurricane Milton. She said it was the only one in the Buena Vista community to get totaled by a tornado.

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