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Maurice residents frustrated with lack of change with recurring yard flooding
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MAURICE, La. (KLFY) -- The severe weather Monday morning caused many people problems in Maurice. Longtime resident Cody Bufford and his family would wake up to see their problem spanned across their entire yard.
“I kind of heard the rain coming down, so we didn't pay any mind to it and then by two hours later, we noticed the entire yard was underwater,” said Bufford.
Bufford said he and his family were stuck in their yard because of the flooding. However, Bufford shared with News 10 that flooding in his neighborhood has been a recurring issue that he has been vocal about before.
“I think the last time they dredged it was in 2018 and we are always having trouble with this flooding and it seems like every time I do call, they don't care,” he said.
With he and his neighbors' yards completely flooded with water levels to their knees, Bufford explained the recent rain was one of the worst.
“We moved in here in 2016 when they had the 100-year flood, that was understandable," he said. "Then in 2018 we called and said the same thing and they kind of brushed it off and said, 'Oh, it's been like that for a hundred years, nothing we really could do about it.' So whenever we filed a complaint, they came and dredged. That was in ‘18 and they haven't done anything since. We are just tired of having to deal with this.”
Five-year resident Mandy Trahan said in a matter of 25 minutes her yard was flooded.
“I know a few people that were here before me," she said. "I was here for that large, big flood and it doesn't take much rain. You see my yard and it's nothing compared to what everybody else deals with, but we were told we were in a no-flood area and as you can see, I can't let my kids out. I can't let the dogs out because what if they're snakes? You’ve seen ant piles everywhere. I feel so bad for my neighbors. I've seen septic systems go out due to this. I've seen where they've called the state and they've called the city and they've asked, can something happen.”
A spokesperson with Coulee Kinney Drainage said they sent out a supervisor to the area on Montgomery Road to check it out, but they have to wait until the water goes down to further assess the coulee. News 10 was also told the area is on a list of improvements to be taken care of.
“I'm at a breaking point where my wife doesn't want to live here anymore. We're stuck where I can't just up and move. I like the place. I just don't like that this keeps happening,” said Bufford. “My thing is to maintain the coulee. They're saying there's nothing they can do. My opinion is if you work for the parish; the government, there should be something you could do, something you could tell me, help me. Give me some kind of ease to let me know that, hey, we're going to try and do something.”