Residents fear future flooding as Largo canal maintenance dispute leaves neighborhood seeking answers

Residents living near a canal in Largo are urging city leaders to take action on what they believe is a growing flood risk, saying memories of Hurricane Milton's devastating impacts are still fresh.Homeowners in the Lincolnshire Estates neighborhood and New Haven Condominiums say they are concerned that vegetation buildup in the canal could worsen flooding during future storms. Many are calling on the city to dredge the waterway. "The people that live here, they look out every night to see if water's going to come out into their properties and into their homes again," said Largo resident Jay Sewell.For residents like Sewell and Jane Pastva, the concern is deeply personal.Pastva said she was forced to evacuate during Hurricane Milton. When they returned, they found their home flooded."We had to evacuate. When we got back, our home had taken in three and a half feet of water," Pastva said. "We inevitably lost the home and every belonging that we had."Now, she and her neighbors closely mo