SHREVEPORT, La. — Residents in Shreveport's Stoner Hill neighborhood are calling on city leaders to address persistent flooding they say has worsened with each heavy rain, leaving families stranded, damaging property and raising safety concerns.
 
Stoner Hill Neighborhood Association President Rachel Jackson brought her concerns to the Shreveport City Council on Monday, urging the city to find long-term solutions to the neighborhood's drainage problems.
 
Jackson said the June 22 flash flood left her grandson trapped as water surrounded their home.
 
"I just fear for my life, really, because it's so much water," Jackson said.
 
She told council members flooding occurs after only a short period of heavy rainfall, with water covering multiple properties and making roads impassable.
Residents say the neighborhood's drainage system can no longer handle the amount of rain falling during recent storms.
 
Cornell White, a lifelong Stoner Hill resident and the neighborhood association's public relations officer, said flooding has always been an issue but has intensified in recent years.
 
"It's kind of a tornado-type rain," White said.
 
The flooding extends beyond one section of the neighborhood. Elias Casas said runoff has damaged his backyard.
 
"My backyard is very bad," Casas said. "The water gushes off the roofs, piles up coming down the hill and has partially deteriorated the backyard."
 
Other residents have spent their own money to reduce flood damage.
 
Teresa Ortiz said her family installed a drainage system after water repeatedly entered their home during heavy rains.
 
"It used to come inside the house when it flooded," Ortiz said. "Now it goes through there and we don't get flooded."
 
Jackson said she met with the city engineer after speaking to the council. According to Jackson, the city plans to begin by cleaning neighborhood drains more frequently to improve water flow during storms.
 
Residents also say floodwaters are eroding streets and creating dangerous holes in roadways.
 
"Most of the time we're doing the work that we should be calling the city to do," Jackson said. "But something of this magnitude, we can't fix."
 
Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark told council members the city has previously explored relocating residents who live in flood-prone areas. Jackson said she is not interested in relocation and hopes the city will instead address the underlying drainage issues so families can safely remain in their homes.

Originally published on ktbs.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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