VENICE — Only a few people aggrieved by what they consider Venice’s inadequate response to hurricanes Helene and Milton spoke at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, but they were angry.
Tina Nepip said she owns two houses on Golden Beach Boulevard, the area that saw the worst flooding. Flamingo Ditch was flooded before Helene, when it wasn’t even raining, she said.
After the storm, as Milton approached, the city could have distributed roll-off containers for the people who were flooded to deposit damaged items, but didn’t.
Milton’s wind and storm surge shifted items left curbside all over the area.
Nepip also said the information the city gave out about Federal Emergency Management Agency standards for repairs to buildings was “nonsense” because it left out exceptions that might apply.
Efrain Martinez, who lives on Gardenia Drive, said that 70% of the water that drains into Flamingo Ditch runs through his property.
He offered the city an easement on his land, to access the ditch for improvements.