Just over 90 days passed before residents at Stillwright Point in Key Largo were able to stand in the middle of roads and streets without water touching their feet in late November 2019. It all stemmed from a king tide that left roads and streets inundated months prior. At times, water on roads exceeded 1-2 feet, and it caused hardship for elderly and handicapped residents. Fast forward to Sept. 19, 2020, and tidal flooding is back inside the community at MM 105, bayside. On Sept. 22, the Keys Weekly hopped in resident Emilie Stewart’s Jeep during late morning, which was low tide, to view the various streets that were under saltwater. “The NWS said that there’s no relief in sight,” Stewart said. During the drive, a Monroe County vehicle was spotted taking measurements. A county commission meeting was held last month to provide input on an application for $21 million in grant funds through the Community Development Block Grant program for general infrastructure to elevate and improve drainage within the Stillwright Point Subdivision, which is comprised of approximately 185 homes. The scope of the project would include reconstructing and elevating 1.5 miles of roadway by up to 1.75 feet or higher in some areas, installing a stormwater collection system, pump station, wet wells, pumps, piping. electrical controls, emergency gerneator and an injector well. An application has been submitted.
