Keeping drains clear to avoid flooding

New Hanover County engineers are reminding people clogged drainage systems need to be cleared before unnecessary flooding costs them major money.

Throughout the county, yard clippings are blocking pipes and spill over drains. All the debris causes congestion in retention ponds that act as a circulatory system during severe rainfall.

Engineer Jeremiah May said if homeowners continue to neglect the yard debris, extreme flooding is unavoidable. “It can take over whole neighborhoods and the property loss is the real issue here. Is the property loss preventable? And it is preventable. An ounce of prevention will give you a pound of relief.”

May said once the drains are cleaned they are very easy to maintain. The problem is many homeowners are unaware of the damage they cause by not properly disposing of their trash.