GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — The rain did not let up Tuesday as Tropical Storm Debby moved further up the coast of Georgia and into South Carolina. The relentless rained caused some flooded roads and dozens of downed trees across Glynn County.
The College Park neighborhood in Brunswick was one of the most flooded areas in the city. Keiri Diaz and her family had to leave their home Monday night because water was starting to come inside their home.
"It’s frustrating, honestly. It floods all up here and in the back…it’s really, really bad in the back,” Diaz said.
When they saw the forecast for Tropical Storm Debby, they started preparing by lifting furniture and appliances on cinderblocks.
“Last night, we started to notice the water was starting to get really high, so we started to put things up. And it was a matter of probably 30 to 40 minutes before it started to go into the house," Diaz explained.
Across the street, David Bonilla and his family also watched the flood waters rise.
"By maybe three in the afternoon, we were halfway through the concrete here. The passageway was covered, the road was nearly fully covered with water. And by six in the afternoon were completely knees-high with water," Bonilla said.
Bonilla did not have any water damage inside his home, but he lost part of his garden.
“It’s not just for looks, we survive off it, too,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla said yards and streets flood every time they get a lot of rain in the College Park neighborhood. According to Brunswick Public Works Director, Garrow Alberson, the flooding is caused by a drainage issue.
Diaz said this marked the fifth time their home flooded since they moved there in 2018. She hopes something can be done to fix the issue before the next storm.
"I get a lot of anxiety every time this happens even if it’s a cloudy day on the weather app, I get anxious because I have to be on the lookout," Diaz said.
Alberson confirmed they are planning to start a major reconstruction project for the drainage system. They are currently in the bidding process for the first phase of the project. They hope to start construction by the end of the year.