For the second time this year, three San Carlos families were forced to leave their homes because of flooding.
A concrete culvert overflowed after the rainstorm early Saturday morning, sending gushing water into the backyards of three homes on Beaver Lake Drive.
“I heard the fence come down and then the water started to come in. I looked in the backyard, and it just started to rise right up behind us. The whole backyard was like a lake,” said homeowner Dean Talbot.
Water flooded Talbot’s whole house and ruined his new carpet. But he said what’s more devastating is that the same thing happened just eight months ago.
“Everything in the house last time was completely destroyed: Beds, cabinets, furniture, clothes, school books, computers,” said Tracy Kull, another neighbor.
“We just finished redoing our house, and now we have to redo it again,” Kull said.
Talbot and Kull say they’re angry with the city of San Diego for not maintaining the culvert.
Local
“The house value has been depleted. Who wants to buy a house that’s flooded twice in eight months?” Talbot said.
City officials told NBC 7 that crews did clean the culvert several months ago but, they admit, not enough to keep it from flooding in the future. Officials said they submitted a permit to clean the ditch several months ago, but state environmental laws are stalling the process.
On Saturday, the city activated an emergency provision to clean up the ditch. Officials say they’re still working on a long-term solution, which is little comfort for residents.
“There’s only so much a person can take. Your house destroyed twice in a year? All your belongings ruined?” Kull said.
More rain is expected Saturday overnight into Sunday. San Diego Fire Department Battalion Chief Dave Pilkerton said crews will watch the area for more flooding because the ground is already saturated.
