10 Tampa Bay | Anxiety rises with water levels along the Peace River as some are urged to move to higher ground @10TampaBay | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 20 hours ago.
In Bartow, there is major concern and growing anxiety along the Peace River as rainwater from Hurricane Milton is creeping its way toward low-lying communities.

While others have started to clean up from the effects of Hurricane Milton, people living along the river are worried that the worst is yet to come.

Tuesday marked the third time in 17 years that Felix Atkinson and his family were packing up and leaving their home in the Peace River Estates Mobile Home Park, where water there was already rising.

“It doesn't matter how many times,” Atkinson said. “It's just scary as hell man.”

The Bartow Fire Department has been visiting communities along the Peace River during the morning, afternoon and night. They’ve been using spray paint to mark the river's slow rise.

Evacuations are not mandatory, but if the water rises too high, officials have to shut off power. They're asking people to make a plan and consider leaving.

MORE: wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/water-levels-peace-river-flooding-milton/67-703b64cb-2444-4b89-9936-35e82414ab32