Flooded Roads In Camden County Have Residents Demanding Action
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Flooding in Haddon Heights have some business owners demanding action and answers.
Frustrated and desperate, Gwen Harrison sent Eyewitness News several pictures showing the road in front of her Haddon Heights business turn into a river, again.
She and her neighbors are fed up.
"It's supposed to be a 100-year-storm that does it," Kathy Villano of Ralph's Pizza said.
"It's really wild, happens all the time," John Melk of Avanti Hair Design added.
Melk has run Avanti Hair Design on the 500 block of Station Avenue for almost 23 years. Just a few doors down, Villano has owned Ralph's Pizza for 26 years.
Villano said, "On more than one occasion, we had the basement flood all the way to the ceiling."
The flood water has since receded but with the steady rain throughout the day, the sandbags weren't going anywhere with a number of basements still drying out.
Villano added, "Oh most definitely we want something done."
Shop owners tell us they have expressed their concerns to the Mayor as well as their County leaders. Meeting after meeting, they say promises were made but solutions were never delivered.
Melk said,"This is a County road so the Town says it's the County's responsibility to clean out the drains but the County hasn't been here."
"Just somebody do something. They keep waiting until the next stork and still nothing is done and it's extremely frustrating," Villano added.
Elizabeth Hur reports...
When Eyewitness News contacted county officials for an answer, they sent us the following statement in response:
"Camden County is aware that when large amounts of rain fall in a short period of time—as it did last night and this afternoon, with 2-3 inches of rain per hour—Station Avenue in Haddon Heights floods. This is an ongoing problem with several root causes, among them drainage from 295, which is a state road, from the White Horse Pike and from parking lots built by the boro. The County has been having conversations with Haddon Heights Boro and a recent study was done and paid for by the County on the flooding issue. County officials continue to meet with council members from Haddon heights on addressing their concerns.
We understand the frustration of those whose lives are affected by this kind of flooding caused by unusually heavy rain falling in a short period of time and regret their inconvenience. We are working with Boro leaders on finding solutions." -Joyce Gabriel, Director of Public Affairs of Camden County Government.
Harrison says she will continue to hold county officials accountable and keep Eyewitness News informed of any and all progress.
