As you saw earlier in the weather report, after a record volume of rainfall last week, those rains have now stopped. But that's not the end of it. The waters that the rains brought with them just came down on the weekend flooding several communities, including the increasingly populated mile 8. Alfonso Noble woke up to find that his home had turned an island. Here's his story.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
The Westlake housing community at mile 8 on the Western Highway lived up to its name this weekend as rising floodwaters simply over ran almost the entire community. The roads became canals. Those who had boats took time out to take them for a test ride while most simply stayed home stranded. As for me, I too was living in a house turned an island. Venturing out meant having to wade in knee-deep water. The residents here say they had to make life as best they could from Friday evening when the waters began to slowly rise.
Ursula Hemmans, Mile 8 Resident
"Yesterday when I came home from school with the kids the water was just over the grill and by this morning it covered the grill."
Alfonso Noble,
You expect the water to go up any higher?
Ursula Hemmans,
"I believe so. It is rising now as we speak."
Efraim Cocom, Resident
"About 4:30 yesterday evening it started to rise slow and by 8 so it had already covered the street and then the whole night. It was a little higher but it looks like it went down a little because it is running fast. It is about three years since we came to live here, since we got this house, and this is a culvert right where you are parked, that has been blocked up and they never clean it; all the drains are blocked up."
Alfonso Noble,
Are you concerned that maybe the water will reach as high as inside your house?
Efraim Cocom,
"I believe if it continues to rain yes. If it continues to rain because I think the rain cause it doesn't pour heavy back here. We are prepared already if the street water comes up, we will have to put things higher."
Ursula Hemmans,
"We are just staying in, we are just staying in and not leaving today. Maybe if it goes down.."
Alfonso Noble,
Are you concerned that the water might go higher?
Efraim Cocom,
"Well that is what I am monitoring right now."
Ursula Hemmans,
"We were worried this morning and last night when we heard the rains but right now it looks good."
And it continued to look good for the rest of the weekend as the water continued to run off, gradually lowering the flood level. And while the water did run off, it made its mark in history, Hemmans says that this is the first time she's seen the levels rise to this point since her family has been living here.
Ursula Hemmans,
"We have been here about three years and this is the first time this has happened. It has always settled under the house maybe for a couple days and then it runs off but this is the first time it is like this."
There is a first time for everything, but the residents of this young community also hope this is the last.
This evening there is still flooding in the area but the water is now receding to about 8 inches.
