Flooding Caught On Tape

Flooding Semmes Some homeowners along Agee Street say the county needs to do something.

by Chad Petri

Published: Sun, April 19, 2009 - 8:09 pm CST

In the video, you’ll see amateur video shot by homeowner Jennifer Barnes on March 31st, 2009.

“I wanted to be able to document how intense, the water rising, the level, the rapid increase of water flowing through our back yard, just how extreme it can get,” says Jennifer. Barnes and her husband say they're being told by county engineers this is their problem entirely, that the county doesn't maintain ditches in the homeowners backyards.

“The ditch that the county does claim ownership of drains between this additional ditch between the houses in the subdivision,” says husband Alex Barnes. Homeowners here say this is just a full subdivision and it deserves proper drainage.

“They're draining essentially the neighborhood through my back yard, that's my contention,”
Ideally, water should flow from a pipe under Agee Road, around a yard, and through everyone’s back yards. The Barnes say there's too much water for a drainage ditch they say isn't properly maintained.

“Where it's supposed to run between two houses it's three to four inches deep in places heavily grassed,” says Alex. Flood waters overrun fences in the home movie. The Barnes say they just want to see this problem fixed.

“We have experienced this several times in the past month, it's not the first time it's happened but it just continues to get worse,” says Jennifer. They say the flooding damages their property and endangers their pets. We contacted mobile county commissioner Stephen Nodine. He says they'll address the concerns and look into it.

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ickthus Says:

Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 10:21 am

tirnipman? don’t you know the gov. never makes mistakes!! they make progress!!! things got progessively good for the fire dept. and progessivley bad for growing tirnips in your yard!

turnipman Says:

Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 9:10 am

I have the same problem here in Lillian. Seems as the local fire department took it upon themselves to alter the flow of run-off by re-paving thier parking lot. County engineers are currently assessing the problem with a fix in the future, which I hope comes soon before more damage is done to my property. I also hope that my tax dollars are not used to “BAILOUT” someone elses “MISTAKES”?

sassygrits Says:

Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 4:09 am

I live in Semmes as well, and have the same problem. The county did, however come do some work on the drainage ditches which were extremely overgrown and obstructed, and, although it is somewhat better, it still floods.