Mid-Town Residents Want Solution to Flash Flooding

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Some Mid-Town residents are thankful for the past two mostly dry days. They've had a chance to dry out and clean up after Monday's flash flooding in their neighborhood and it has given the city some time to look at their complaints.

After our report Monday, one Vollintine Evergreen residents said the Director of Public Works contacted her about cleaning-up the debris in Lick Creek--which might be causing the storm water to overflow into the streets, cars, and homes. Still, many neighbors are waiting on another city department to address the long-term engineering concerns with the Lick Creek Storm Water Basin.

Alyce Langley saw flood waters up to her steps Monday morning.

"We've been flooded about six times," Langley said.

It has been seven years and she doesn't want to soak in the reality of this scene. There's the clean-up. And the cost of repairing and replacing belongings, again. Although, with Monday's flood, she lost something she can't get back so easily.

"Everything had been taken out of our shop pretty much. So, mostly it was just my wits," Langley said.

Wain Gaskins is the Director of the City Engineer's Office. He said the city has been studying this problem area of the Lick Creek Storm Water Basin for five years. While the city has made some moves to address the flash flooding concerns. It still hasn't moved forward with any kind of plan for a detention area near Overton Park.

"Which would collect the water, slow it, and meter it out at a lower rate than it's currently discharging upstream into Lick Creek," Gaskins said.

Gaskins said his department has come up with several alternatives. But, they never seem to please everybody.

"The problem is we're dealing with a drainage system that was constructed 70 to 100 years ago. It was not constructed to the level of urbanization that we have now," Gaskins said.

That doesn't help Langley.

"Does he want to live in my house? I'll trade houses with him. I don't know where he lives. But maybe I'll trade houses with him," Langely said.

Langley wants to see progress and not live in fear every time it rains and she's not home.

"Do I have to worry about my child? I have a 13-year-old. Is he going to be safe if I'm not at home?" Langley asked.

There is a meeting in two weeks for this neighborhood. Residents said some city officials plan to attend and talk about what's being done to address the flash flooding.

The Engineering Department is still looking for an acceptable solution.