A Florida county that has faced repeated neighborhood flooding is directing a major share of disaster funding toward the less glamorous side of storm preparation: storm drains, pipe replacements, and automated outfalls.
$125 million in county-backed projects is moving ahead in Manatee County as officials pair storm repair work with upgrades intended to blunt damage from future heavy rain and hurricanes.
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After hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, Manatee County has lined up 22 projects for this funding round, 12 run by the county and 10 more spread across six cities and one town, according to WWSB. Stormwater improvements and other flood control work are set to receive much of the allocation.
Commissioner Tal Siddique said the spending effort reflects a problem facing the region…