Homeowners in Sylacauga continue to clean up after heavy rains in early June brought severe flooding. The city took the first steps to improve its drainage system this week, as well as requested a state of emergency be declared.
The city recently approved contracts to investigate and clean out the city's drainage system. Mayor Jim Heigl told ABC 33/40 a flood in March started the conversation about drainage improvements. The drainage system has not gone through an extensive clean-out since at least 2008 when Heigl began serving on the city council.
The clean-out process is already underway. It started Tuesday with identifying issues.
"We have found obstructions in some of them already. They are putting cameras in them and they are checking them out. We planned to do this some time ago, about a month ago, but it caught up with us too quickly," said Heigl.
The city also bought a new street sweeper that has a vacuum system that will be able to vacuum out the storm drains.
Neighbors hoped to see some improvements soon.
"We're just on pins and needles every time the thunder cracks. We have no idea if we are going to have to grab everything and run again," said Tyrone Pelfrey. His property on Cloverdale Drive flooded in March and June.
Pelfrey said it was unusual for the water to rise as high as it did, especially twice within a few months.
"All of the sudden, twice it flooded that building. I lost $7,000 the first time. $8,000 the second time. I haven't done anything else because I don't know what's happening," he said. "We need to find out what's the cause of the water coming up so high and hasn't done it in over 30 years here. My biggest thing is, what have they done up there for that to do it here?"
In June, the water stopped at Pelfrey's doorstep. His neighbor, Johnny Hamilton, was not as fortunate.
"It got six inches in my house. My house is completely gutted. If I didn't have flood insurance, I couldn't fix it. We're looking at over $100,000," said Hamilton. "It's been pure misery."
The neighbors point to the drainage system and changes in the land due to new construction as reasons for the rising flood waters. Both Hamilton and Pelfrey told ABC 33/40 they were concerned the Cloverdale community would be last on the list for improvements.
"If they clean out all this stuff in town and let the water run more freely in town, it is just going to flood us more. I fear if they do it in town first, we'll never get this cleaned off. We'll never get this done. Now that's got me looking at somewhere else to live," said Hamilton.
Hamilton would like to see something done with the nearby creek, to which he said much of the city's rainwater goes.
"Clean this out first, make it bigger, deeper, wider. Do whatever you've got to do to save our neighborhood," he said.
Mayor Heigl said the entire drainage system is being looked at, including in Cloverdale.
"All these areas that have storm sewers will be looked at. We'll clean out all of them. Some may be collapsed but we don't know that yet. What we find, we will repair, replace or expand the size of them," said Mayor Heigl. "I think after this one, we will be keeping up with this on a regular basis. I'll have to get with the street superintendent to see when he thinks we need to do this again, to keep ahead of the game. We know what bit us, now we've got to get down there and keep ahead of the game."
Heigl said the city's street department has the funds needed to fix some issues now, but larger projects could need more money.
"If we have to go in there and tear up a 24-inch or 36-inch line of storm sewer, that's going to be expensive," said Heigl. "The long-range, we'll have to get some more funding either through the council, or appropriation. We are going to have to reach out...it's going to be expensive but what can we do for our merchants? What can we do for our homeowners? They need help."
The city council also called an emergency meeting this week to request a state of emergency be declared to get state and federal aid for residents and businesses.
"Help our business people and also our residents to get some kind of relief from the state of Alabama," said Heigl. "Hopefully it will help us get the funding we need to alleviate these issues."
It is unclear if and when the request would be approved.
Along with cleaning, Heigl said a recent change to the city's code requires drainage to be looked at first for all new construction. He's hopeful that will prevent more flooding issues in the future.