HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Thursday will be one year since Hurricane Milton. The storm brought torrential rainfall and led to localized flooding, raising creeks and rivers. Now Hillsborough County leaders are working on a post-disaster plan to address long-term recovery.

It’s the plan you never want to use, but county leaders want to prepare for whatever kind of storm Mother Nature could bring next. Hurricane Milton continues to be a problem for some people, even a year out.

“There are still individuals that are displaced from that last hurricane season that are still living in either hotels or couch surfing with relatives or friends,” said Tramaine Whittey, with Hillsborough Housing Services.

Leaders want to partner with agencies to help get back to normal. The post-disaster redevelopment plan will house these recommendations.

Permitting was also a hold up for residents throughout the county.

“We will continue to have storm permits come in probably for at least two years after the actual hurricane ends,” said Travis Minnes, with Hillsborough Development Services.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Hal Sparks told the panel a retention pond near his house caused flooding during Hurricane Milton. He wanted answers about the floodplain but didn’t get them when he initially asked.

“I thought it was ridiculous that they didn’t have anyone here from Swiftwater or with the water management district,” Sparks said.

County officials said they will coordinate with different departments to gather recommendations that will address flooding in the plan. They said they understand how much of a concern it is, and reminded residents that Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton all had their own personalities, with no way to predict just how bad they were going to be.

“Definitely working with the folks from our water resources division and storm water division to make sure that our lift stations and pump stations and storm water movement were still working,” said CK Moore, the chief of the planning section for Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management.

Having a plan doesn’t mean the next disaster won’t have a new set of problems. But officials said they aim to learn from what happened last year and build back better.

The plan has to be finalized, approved, and will be posted online. Leaders hope to work with other counties to develop a regional plan as well.