Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Goodwin drove north on Rockridge Road in his PCSO pickup, then east on Deen Still Road, going slow through areas of the Green Swamp where creeks were washing over the roadways Sunday afternoon.
He has spent the last few days in the Kathleen area of north Lakeland, handing out water, meals-ready-to-eat and tarps following devastating flooding from Hurricane Milton. Deputies delivered the items in flooded areas via airboats and swamp buggies.
Helping neighbors: “It was kind of difficult giving people food and water due to them wanting to help their neighbor. So, they’re like, ‘We fared very well, so just give it to the next person down the road. They might need it more than I do,’” Goodwin said.
Mari Acosta’s home on Angus Road was surrounded by water when Goodwin, a U.S. Army veteran, checked on her and her husband.
“Nothing happened in the house — we just got a lot of water around, but it’s getting better now,” Acosta said. “The only thing (is) I was worried honestly because we never lived in a mobile home and we didn’t know how strong it was going to be with the wind.”
While she turned down the offer of food and water, her husband asked for water for cooking.
Houa Xiong and his wife May rode out the storm in their mobile home at the end of Whipperwill Lane. He said the water rose about two feet in their yard during and after the storm, which his wife described as scary.
“It’s in the middle of the night –– a lot of wind and a lot of noise, but we made it ok,” said Xiong. “We use a little boat paddle to go around here and it’s up to the bottom of the car. We didn’t get water in the house – the house is fine.”
50 years no water in house: Sean Reynolds helped to cut down a tree in another neighbor’s yard. He grew up on Whipperwill Lane and said he has never seen the water that high.
“In 50 years, we never had water in the house,” Reynolds said. “We only had about an inch in the lower level. The winds were absolutely unreal.”
His wife, Amanda Reynolds, thanked Goodwin. “The amount of love out here has just been amazing – you guys have been doing great” she said.
“Well, thank you. We appreciate that,” said Goodwin, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Department since 2018. “We’ve been working hard trying to make sure the roads (are passable).”
Sean Reynolds then asked Goodwin for some help with a tree.
“I don’t know if there’s anybody that might come help us with that one tree that I’m scared of,” Reynolds said. “That big sycamore is in that oak tree and it’s holding it up. I’ve made sure that everybody stays away from it. I didn’t even get my trash cans out of it yet –– they’re tied to the tree.”
Deen Still Road washout: As Goodwin went around the “road closed” barricade on Deen Still Road at Moore Road, water rushed across the pavement. (Deen Still is closed between Moore Road and State Road 33.) Farther down, by Melody Lane, a pothole had formed from the tannin-colored waters of Pony Creek washing over the road.
When Goodwin passed by the section of road again, the pothole was bigger. On a third approach, it was up to the shins of a county road maintenance crew worker as he and his colleagues prepared to fill in the hole with asphalt.
A worker used a small backhoe to dump the asphalt into the hole and spread it evenly, even as water continued moving across the hole. Schools of tiny minnows crossed the road and vanished into the underbrush as the workers continued to fix the pothole.
Power crew stuck: A call for help came across Goodwin’s scanner — a lineman’s truck had gotten stuck in the mud down Melody Lane. Several crews from Pennsylvania Electric Company were gathered on the road. Down a driveway, with water from Pony Creek digging furrows into the path, a large lineman’s truck was parked next to a home.
“I’ve got the nicest, most expensive lawn ornament ever,” said the homeowner before going inside.
The men continued to wait for a truck with tracks on it –– like a tank’s –– that would have enough traction and power to pull out the bucket truck.
The power company wasn’t the only one stuck. A young man who had driven his small car through floodwaters was stalled out.
Aid: Off of U.S. 98 North, Florida National Guardsmen handed out aid to residents, including fresh apples. They had been at Gator Creek Reserve all day, but weren’t sure if they would be returning Monday.
Slideshow: 8 photos
An antique truck sits in a flooded field off Angus Road. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow 
The entrance to a ranch is flooded near Rockridge Road. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow 
Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Goodwin walks through knee-deep flood water as he gauges whether he can drive his truck through it. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow 
A homeowner on Rockridge Road used giant plastic mats left by Duke Energy during a large power pole installation to float their car, keeping it safe from floodwaters. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow 
Water from Pony Creek rushes across Deen Still Road. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow 
Cows in a flooded pasture off Angus Road in the Green Swamp. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow 
Cows in a flooded pasture off Angus Road in the Green Swamp. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow 
A home off Rockridge Road with its front siding torn off. | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
Photos by Kimberly C. Moore
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