Lake Bonny flooding relief in sight as pumps arrive to water-logged community

FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Lakeland residents along Lake Bonny are feeling their calls for help have been answered nearly two weeks after Hurricane Milton flooded their homes and neighborhoods.

On Tuesday evening, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delivered two water pumps that were placed on the northwest corner of Lake Bonny. The next day, 9,000 feet of piping was laid to remove water from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker, which will eventually drain into the Peace River.

"I'm looking forward to feet coming down instead of inches," said Laymon Hackney, who lives in a mobile home community along Lake Bonny that has been flooded since the hurricane.

PREVIOUS: Lake Bonny residents to confront Lakeland city leaders over home flooding: 'I just want it done'

He described the entire experience as sad and aggravating.

"Every day you're sitting in that, and you open the door the next day and there's the water," said Hackney. "And, it's starting to smell and everything's turning green."

The city says it doesn't have a timetable for how long it will take to drain the water from Lake Bonny.

After demanding answers and transparency from the city and county, he felt some relief finally once he saw the pumps and pipes being assembled.

The solution was a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, including the City of Lakeland, Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Polk County, the State of Florida and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. They determined that surrounding communities around the Peace River wouldn't be impacted.

PREVIOUS: Residents along Lake Bonny still dealing with flooding, demanding answers

"Our combined technical team between the Southwestern Florida Water Management District and the Corps has taken a look at where the water is going to go and have determined the surrounding communities of where the water will be deposited will be safe from inundation," said Major Matt Westcott, a deputy commander with the Jacksonville District Army Corps of Engineers.

"We needed the big guns and the big guns came," said Rep. Jennifer Canady, (District 50).

Canady told FOX 13 she had numerous constituents reach out to her, and she went to state emergency operations to seek a solution.

"Look, sometimes the government gets it wrong, but this is an example where everybody worked together and did the best they could to address the issue," said Canady. "We're going to get it right for the people who deserve to have the problem taken care of to the best of our ability."

It's a dire situation Hackney hopes will never happen again.

"Long term – they're going to have to maintain the pump better or put in a bigger pump or a backup pump, so if that one goes down, then we have something else to keep it going," said Hackney.

The two pumps will pump out 4,000 cubic feet per second. Within 24 to 36 hours, U.S. Army Corps officials said residents should expect to see the water level go down. The system will be operational until the flooding at Lake Bonny goes down.

The following roads will remain closed while crews install the piping:

East Main Street at Elgin Street
Elgin Street
North Fern Road from Elgin Street to Alicia Road
North Gary Road from Rose Street
East Magnolia Street / East Gary Road.

Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and follow the advance notice detours. The recreational path from Lake Bonny Drive to the boat ramp will be closed as well.

No timetable has been set for the duration of the project. Officials say pumping will continue until Lake Bonny reaches an acceptable level and provides relief to those impacted.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: