FAST FACTS:
The City of Oakland is knee-deep in controversy.
Homeowners angry over drainage problems flooded City Hall in Oakland, claiming the city is to blame for damaged homes.
Several homeowners pickected, holding signs with pictures of their recently flooded homes. Residents of the Northwood Estates subdivision suffered two rounds of heavy rains which rushed foot-high into their homes. Police, citing a city ordinance ordered the residents to disperse, but the angry homeowners moved to private property where passing motorists honked in support. The families whose homes were flooded twice in the past month say the city is to blame for poor flooding control and poor planning.
'We have no flood insurance and most people don't,' says homeowner Shirley Bigham who spent $18,000 to fix damaged floors, furniture and walls from a July 14th flood only to be flooded again on the 30th.
'I'm sorry to say there is nothing we can do,' says Oakland Mayor Bill Mullins who claims the state installed an inadequately sized culvert near the subdivions. Mullins says the city has invested in engineers to look into the problem and expects the state should foot the bill to correct the problem.
Meantime, as residents worry about the next rainstorm, engineers will continue to study the drainage problem while homeowners like Deborah Jones worry how they will stay afloat.
'If we lost our home, that would be it for us,' she says, 'We would be bankrupt.'
- Northwood Estates subdivision in Oakland, TN flooded twice
- Several homes damaged
- Residents blame city for poor flood control planning
The City of Oakland is knee-deep in controversy.
Homeowners angry over drainage problems flooded City Hall in Oakland, claiming the city is to blame for damaged homes.
Several homeowners pickected, holding signs with pictures of their recently flooded homes. Residents of the Northwood Estates subdivision suffered two rounds of heavy rains which rushed foot-high into their homes. Police, citing a city ordinance ordered the residents to disperse, but the angry homeowners moved to private property where passing motorists honked in support. The families whose homes were flooded twice in the past month say the city is to blame for poor flooding control and poor planning.
'We have no flood insurance and most people don't,' says homeowner Shirley Bigham who spent $18,000 to fix damaged floors, furniture and walls from a July 14th flood only to be flooded again on the 30th.
'I'm sorry to say there is nothing we can do,' says Oakland Mayor Bill Mullins who claims the state installed an inadequately sized culvert near the subdivions. Mullins says the city has invested in engineers to look into the problem and expects the state should foot the bill to correct the problem.
Meantime, as residents worry about the next rainstorm, engineers will continue to study the drainage problem while homeowners like Deborah Jones worry how they will stay afloat.
'If we lost our home, that would be it for us,' she says, 'We would be bankrupt.'
