Gov. Scott visits flooded areas in Bonita Springs

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. Gov. Rick Scott says he was in constant contact with local leaders in Southwest Florida as floods trapped people in their homes this week.

Scott arrived Friday in Bonita Springs and did not tour some of the hardest-hit areas. Floodwaters remain near Dean and Quinn streets off Bonita Beach Road where the Imperial River overflowed.

“I’ve been monitoring this all along, I know that everybody was evacuated safely,” Scott said.

It was Scott’s first visit to the region since the flooding began Aug. 25.

The governor touted partnerships between government agencies, like the Florida Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection, as an avenue to keeping flood-prone areas dry.

“We’ll be talking to the water management district, talking with the FDOT, DEP, to see if there’s things we can do to prevent this in the future,” Scott said.

Scott met with Mayor Peter Simmons and others at 9 a.m. at City Hall.