After a heavy rain

On the left of the street was the only area storm drain. It emptied into Navahoe Street. The western section of Lakeland frequently flooded after a heavy rain, as shown in the photograph. On June 23, 1972, tropical storm Agnes devastated Lakeland and much of the region. Flood waters covered the entire community, damaging many homes and destroying several others. Following the storm, efforts to obtain effective flood control and redevelopment were taken up with a new urgency. Finally, a flood control project by the Army Corp of Engineers was approved, and the Lakeland Urban Renewal Project began to receive necessary governmental approvals for work to begin.