LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – Flash flooding during Wednesday, May 23’s storms caused water damage to homes in the Hillcrest area, and it is not the first time it has happened.
"This is something that happens every year. If it's raining fast and hard, within 15 minutes we're up three feet of water,” Hillcrest resident Kat Slabodnick said.
Flash flooding can create scary situations. For example, the creek behind Slabodnick’s home flooded, creating a river in the street.
"Last year it washed away our fence. It washed away again this year,” she said.
Slabodnick lives on F street in Hillcrest. She said she is not the only one this happens to.
"My neighbor, Sam, he has had to replace his AC unit at least three times because it keeps washing away,” she said.
Slabodnick also said she is required to have flood insurance, but most insurance won’t cover most of the damage.
"We have to pay so much money through federal insurance program now because nobody in the state of Arkansas will cover us,” she said.
Rosemary Gordon has lived in her home since 1987. She said the city hasn't done anything about the creek in over 15 years.
"In 2015, probably they said they would try to get money allotted in 2017. Called Kathy Web and she didn't know anything about it,” Gordon said.
Public works have since set up cones near the creek.
"The bridge over the creek has gotten lots of cracks in it now. It’s probably going to collapse,” Slabodnick said.
But neighbors want to see this problem fixed now.
“I’m 39 weeks pregnant. Super emotional. It happened last year, it happened again and I’m just about to give birth. All the hard work we put into the house, we put into the yard….it’s just an extra expense,” she said.
THV11 called Vice-Mayor Kathy Webb to see if there are any plans to fix the creek. They forwarded us to the Public Works Department. The department said they received nine flood complaints in the Hillcrest area on May 24 and were responding to those the next day.