Lake Paradise lake level could have been ready for Irma if a pro-active effort had been made by closing the golf courses several days prior to the arrival of the hurricane.
The ponds could have fed the golf course sprinkler systems for 24 hours a day for several days in order to help accommodate the heavy rains that were known to be on their way here.
Why did Property Management and other groups not do this?  We pay their wages, why did the people responsible for protecting us not do their jobs?
If the lake had been pumped (with something more aggressive than the relatively small pump now being used) over to ponds that supply the sprinklers maybe the ankle deep water that invaded our home would not have occurred. We have spent ten days removing flooring, paneling and damaged furniture, not to mention that our central air conditioning unit was destroyed and we are now awaiting an engineering appraisal of the integrity of the house. Â
Lake Paradise pond rose a record 30 inches from Irma. Our four flooded rooms are 20 inches above the level of our retaining wall. If this 20-inch rise could have been reduced to rise of 12 inches over the wall our air conditioner could have been saved. If the level above the retaining wall had been reduced to only 16 inches, the flooding of the rooms would not have occurred.
I wonder how many around the Lake have suffered the same ordeal that we have? How many people are going to be out a lot of money recovering from this negligent lack of action on the part of The Villages government?
Richard St. Amant lives on Debra Drive near Lake Paradise.
