Residents of the Briar Bay community in West Palm Beach are still dealing with widespread flooding nearly a week after the rain stopped, according to reports from WPBF and WPTV. Standing water continues to cover streets off Jog Road west of the Turnpike, disrupting daily life for families who cannot leave their homes, attend school, or access groceries.
“Water has been stagnant like this for one week now,” homeowner Dihan Tweed told WPTV. Another resident, Dwinette Feemster, said, “There’s a lot of people who have been trapped in their home for an entire week. No school, no work, no groceries.” The prolonged inundation has forced many to park cars outside their complexes. Tweed reported that floodwater entered his vehicle, which the repair shop later deemed a total loss.
In the Briar Bay neighborhood, residents also voiced concerns about health and sanitation. Homeowner Munzareen Mirza said, “It’s a health hazard, and we are just sick of it and nobody has given us a straight answer,” after seeing dead animals and experiencing disrupted trash collection.
Local homeowners association (HOA) officials are pressing for answers. Phillip Hutchinson, treasurer of Tides at Briar Bay, told WPTV that pumps belonging to the Hamal Community Development District were not operating last Sunday, adding, “Clearly they did not do in advance what was necessary to remove enough water for us not to have this situation.” Hutchinson, a 20‑year resident, said he has never seen water remain this long.
HOA representatives said they have contacted the city of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County while seeking funding and emergency relief. Residents are demanding clarification on why lake levels were not lowered and whether current equipment can adequately remove the floodwater.
WPBF highlighted personal hardships caused by the flooding. Ariana Willgh explained that water reached her garage door, submerging it for the entire week, and added, “I really hope that the management, the HOA, and people from the city will actually help us because this is why we pay our taxes and our fees monthly.” Her daughter Alicia and neighbor Tanoy Williams described being forced to stay with friends and relatives while their vehicles were damaged.
Students are also feeling the impact. Aurora Dihan, a local student, said the rising water quickly shifted from excitement to fear, noting, “Then it became fear when the water kept rising and rising, and now I’m just tired of it.” Residents have taken makeshift measures, such as building barricades to keep water from entering homes.
While the exact cause of the pump failure remains under investigation, community members agree that the immediate priority is to drain the water as quickly as possible. “Right now, we just want this water out, like ASAP,” one resident told WPTV.
