After “catastrophic” flooding, residents of Windsor Woods press Virginia Beach for help
When Hurricane Matthew dumped more than a foot of rain on the city last weekend, Sherry and
But it could have been worse. And for a lot of their neighbors in Windsor Woods, it was.
Dozens of frustrated residents from the large neighborhood near
Residents accused the city of neglecting drainage projects in the neighborhood for decades and squandering their tax money. Many yelled at city staff members, some coming close to tears or cursing.
More than 250 homes in Windsor Woods flooded last weekend, and 85 percent of them had no insurance coverage because the neighborhood isn't in a flood zone, according to City Manager
"You're in a very, very difficult and what I might call catastrophic position," Hansen said at the meeting.
City staff intended to brief residents on a
After the dredging, the city plans to inspect and replace old pipes. Several
The permanent solution would involve spending
The city has completed more than
"There's nothing that would have prevented this flood," he said.
Two weeks earlier, a four-day deluge dumped about 13 inches of rain on the city. The cumulative impact of the back-to-back storms, Hansen said, would have overwhelmed any stormwater system.
Meanwhile, residents are dealing with the immediate crisis. Some have been been staying in motels as they try to find money to clean and repair their homes. Throughout the neighborhood, entire contents of homes sit on the curb, water-damaged.
"I'm not really interested in the projects," said resident
Gov.
"There's a lot of frustration," Hansen said. "I understand how devastating this is."
Until the city hears back from the federal government, Hansen said, residents should do what they can.
"You got to pull together as a community," he said. "You've got to help each other, you've got to get the barbecue out, you've got to hug each other."
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