News 12 First at Five/ August 15, 2012
AUGUSTA, Ga--An Augusta family has still not been able to return to their home after weekend storms flooded them out.
The homeowner lives near Rocky Creek, a known flood zone.
However, the homeowner says the rain is only partly to blame, he is also blaming the city.
Neighbors say they need to clean up the garbage that may have caused it all.
B.B. Langham is struggling to tell his kids why they don't have toys, toys ruined in the flooding.
But, he has no problem telling city leaders to clean up their mess.
Langham told News 12, "It floated furniture up, it tore furniture up. I got three children and it damaged their clothes."
The youngest just a 2 week old baby. For B.B. Langham and his family the weekend flooding has left them knee deep in problems.
The source?
Langham said, "You name it I've seen it come down [Rocky] creek other than a body."
Debris and garbage, he says is causing drainage problems at Rocky Creek just behind his home.
Who does he blame?
Langham said, "This was negligence, negligence by the city of Augusta Richmond County."
He says it's been 22 years of it and he put these marks on the wall to prove it.
Langham says a dilapidated Regency Mall isn't helping.
Langham said, "We've tried and tried to tell them that creek needs to be cleaned out."
Augusta Commissioner, Bill Lockett, said, "They should be able to live in a safe environment, but for 22 years he feels like he hasn't? Well, you know, I think he has a legitimate gripe."
Commissioner Lockett has been by the home several times just this week. He agrees, it's neglience.
He said, "We've been really slow in doing something to stop that from happening."
Commissioner Lockett suggests a stormwater tax so places like Regency Mall that are contributing to this mess can help foot the bill.
In the meantime, he wants to get inmates involved, "To get them to clean out this body of water so that the water coming in will flow easily," said Lockett.
But, for B.B. Langham and his family, it's all a little too late with a yard full of furniture, car seat, and ruined toys.
"They can pay now or they can pay later, later they are going to be paying me and an attorney," said Langham.
Lockett says they don't want it to get to that point.
He also mentioned it is a great possibility they could ask folks living near that area to relocate, but they want to hear from homeowners if that is something they'd consider.
Meanwhile, Langham has had help from Red Cross but that's run out, they are now having to stay with family.
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