Augusta resident upset as severe storm clogs drains

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Downtown Augusta was swamped with rain on Tuesday from a severe storm.

Crews were out and about trying to clear drains to help move water.

One taxpayer is upset that the city didn’t act sooner.

As rain and wind cracked across the Garden City, Kevin De l’Aigle said a quick Tuesday afternoon walk with his dog became a run for shelter.

“I walked up on the bridge with my dog, and it was so dark. I looked this way, and it looked like a funnel cloud was going to come down. And we ran back to Urban K-9,” said De l’Aigle.

Before he could even make it across the street, waves of rainwater met the tires of his car.

“I mean, I could barely drive through it, and you can see only big trucks can get through it,” said De l’Aigle.

Orange barrels once standing as construction markers were floating, along with debris over clogged drains.

De l’Aigle blames it on years of poor infrastructure.

“I’ve never seen it like this. I mean, we talk about all of the potholes that have been filled, when was the last time that you saw some fresh pavement,” he said.

The city’s chief engineer, Hameed Malik, says these drains take time to do their jobs and you should not mess with them.

“It takes a few hours for them to drain. I say do not try to drive on the outermost lane, close to the curb. Drive slowly,” said Dr. Hameed Malik

If you see clogged drains, report them to 311 and someone from the city will be out to clear it.

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