Hillsborough County firefighter rescues hurricane victims, comes home to flood in Polk County

SOUTH LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) – Jarrod Smith looked out at his now-lakefront property. His home is surrounded by water. His pool and barn are nearly submerged.

Flood waters have taken over Smith's garage and outdoor cooking area.

Smith has been around flood waters for nearly a week at home and at work.

He pulled senior citizens out of flooded homes as a Hillsborough County Fire Rescue firefighter in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

"People that lost power. They don't have the oxygen. They need medication. They don't have the ability to get out," said Smith.

Then he came home to find much of his Oakmont neighborhood in south Lakeland underwater.

"You think you're coming home to take a little break and then you come home to chaos," he said.

His neighborhood saw flooding after Hurricane Irma in 2017 but Smith said, it's worse this time.

"It's still rising. It's still coming and people's houses are on the brink right now. They're trying to figure out how to get their furniture out, how to get the pictures of their grandfather and grandmother out," said Smith.

County officials said Smith lives in what's known as "Lake Seward" and is known to flood.

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Smith argues the flooding has gotten worse since development nearby funnels rainwater downhill to his and 20 or so other homes.

The neighborhood is not located near any swollen rivers.

"I think there's some opportunity for the county to come out and give us a little help," said Smith.

Polk County roads and drainage director Jay Jarvis said the county has been out to investigate.

"Pumping would be an option and we are evaluating that option. We have to be concerned about where we pump to and insure that we are not impacting anyone with these flood waters," replied Jarvis to a question about the possibility of pumping the water out.

"We've got tons of people that are coming out and looking but we need results. We need boots on ground," said Smith.