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Hillsborough County wants investigation after flooding from hurricanes

Hillsborough County plans to hire consultants to investigate why several areas of the county that rarely or never flood were inundated with water after hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners signed off on an idea to work with Tampa and Plant City on a probe of what Commissioner Pat Kemp called “devastating flooding” in areas where people weren’t warned ahead of time.

Kemp asked for the investigation to focus on Forest Hills, Pine Crest and areas of Plant City and near the University of South Florida. Other members of the board asked for a comprehensive countywide investigation but unanimously passed Kemp’s request.

Commissioner Christine Miller also separately asked for a task force to address flood control, environmental management and water quality.

The task force would be led by a consultant and include several state and county agencies, including local municipalities and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Miller said she hoped to find the consultant by Nov. 13 and wanted the task force to focus on Baker Creek, Pemberton Creek, Lake Thonotosassa and the Shangri-La neighborhood in Seffner.