Ashford and County leaders work together to install new drains to mitigate flooding
ASHFORD, Ala. (WDHN) — Flooding has been a nightmare for some Ashford residents for nearly 40 years and now they are hoping to rest a little easier after a partnership between the city and county to mitigate having their properties submerged in water.
After portions of Ashford flooded after receiving about seven inches of rain in one hour one day in February, the county has installed three large drainage pipes near Mill Creek on Ashford Road.
“We came in here and changed the pipes out we went from two to three 96-inch pipes and then Ashford stepped up to clean the ditch where the water can get here and get out of here to protect our citizens,” District 2 Commissioner Tracy Adams said. “A good use of taxpayer dollars.”
This comes after the clogged-up ditches with two smaller drains at the time contributed to water backing up — flooding properties and causing damage to homes located off Main Street over three months ago.
“This time the water didn’t come in my house but it came to the doorstep I saw my neighbors across the road water going into their house I took pictures, you could not see the road, or the stop sign it was all underwater so this has been a problem for many years,” Ethel Smith said.
Smith was instrumental in getting the city and county to take action – bringing it to their attention with constant phone calls and sharing pictures at the city council meetings.
“It’s hard living in fear every time you get a thunderstorm until you have been there you don’t understand it,” Smith said.
City workers say the new drains on Ashford Road are just the first and main part of the process — they plan to continue moving upstream near Main Street and Bruner Street as other areas are known to flood like Academy Drive also flooded.
“When we finish here we will go to the next flood zone and hopefully one day we will mitigate the whole situation,” Mayor Carole Barfield
Now the city and county say they know it’s not going to solve the issue entirely but they plan to keep an eye on the drainage ditches to make sure they are clean and not clogged ahead of another heavy rainfall event.
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