Salem flooding victims blame new school for the problem
SALEM, Ore. - Some homeowners in south Salem are furious about the flood damage they are dealing with because they believe a new school building behind their homes forced the water into their backyards.
This is the first year that flood water has ever backed up into yards in the 1500 block of Madras Street S.E., near Battle Creek Golf Course.
Residents had to pile up sand bags around their homes to try to keep about a foot and a half of water from getting in and now they're blaming an elementary school for the problem. You see it sits in the middle of where all of the flood water usually collected after a heavy rain. But now that the school is there, neighbors say the water just rushed all around it and right into nearby homes.
"When they built this school it was one of our biggest fears that something like that would happen," said neighborhood resident Nancy Weber. "And when I came home and saw it I thought 'oh my God - this is what we feared the most and it's happening.' "
A total of 25 condos were flooded. The homeowner's association told us they have had multiple meetings with city planners during the past couple of years trying to warn them not to build in that spot because of flooding concerns.
We contacted the Salem city manager Monday morning to ask if the City of Salem takes any responsibility for the flooding or if anything is being done to prevent this from happening again. We have not yet heard back. We are also waiting for a response from the Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
Residents want the city to take responsibility and help them foot the bill for the damage. Some estimate they are looking at $3,000 to $5,000 in repairs.
More rain is on the way in the coming days and flooding could again be a concern.
