Orlo Vista project helped prevent Milton flooding, Orange County says

Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc on several Central Florida communities, but spared the Orlo Vista neighborhood in West Orange County from much damage. It’s a relief for the community, which took on devastating floodwaters during Hurricane Ian two years ago.

Before and after images show how much more damage Orlo Vista suffered from Hurricane Ian, compared to Hurricane Milton.

A major flood mitigation project that the county’s Public Works Department is finishing up is partly to thank, according to Deputy Public Works Director Brett Blackadar.

“It definitely had a big impact, because the project was effectively done,” Blackadar said. “The only thing that wasn’t in place was the final pumps.”

The Orlo Vista Flood Mitigation Project is about 97% finished, according to the county’s most recent update. Although supply-chain delays have halted the arrival of permanent, submersible pumps that will ultimately be installed for the project, the county has temporary pumps in place that effectively do the same job, Blackadar said.

“The effect was that we basically were able to get a hundred-year storm event capacity out of the system,” Blackadar said.