Batesburg-Leesville business owners call for change after flash flooding
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Batesburg-Leesville business owners call for change after flash flooding
Flash flooding hit Batesburg-Leesville late Tuesday night with more than 3.5 inches of rain falling in just 55 minutes. Local business owners are searching for accountability over the town’s infrastructure and storm water drains. “Listen, the only reason I said anything after eight years is because we just want some action; we want some results. It is not to stir the pot at all, it’s just to hold people accountable and get our drainage issues fixed,” said Angie Snow, owner of Hebrews Cafe. The town manager said the town owns and maintains minimal amounts of stormwater infrastructure, and is aware of the impact of these rain events on residents and businesses. The Town of Batesburg was recently awarded a Safe Streets grant through the Federal Highway Administration through the Safe Streets For All grant program. The grant is available to communities across the U.S. for up to five years, with a maximum of $100,000 per city. The federal grant can only be used for infrastructure improvements.
Local business owners said this recent flooding was the final straw. They’re searching for accountability over the town’s infrastructure and storm water drains.
Local business owner Angie Snow recorded herself driving and walking through inches of standing water outside her business and surrounding areas.
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Stone is the owner of Hebrews Cafe on East Railroad Avenue in Batesburg-Leesville. She posted videos to social media calling on the town and the South Carolina Department of Transportation to take action.
“Listen, the only reason I said anything after eight years is because we just want some action; we want some results. It is not to stir the pot at all, it’s just to hold people accountable and get our drainage issues fixed,” said Snow.
In the video, there are several inches of standing water surrounding the property and roadway, and several storm water drains are overgrown and filled with trash.
Snow has been operating the cafe for the last eight years, and for eight years, she’s experienced frustration over what she said is ongoing flooding.
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“What brings me the most concern is that we are about to flood Batesburg Leesville with a ton of people and water, and nothing is being done,” said Stone.
Just down the road is Jeff Taylor, the owner of Ridge Motorsports.
Taylor decided to rip out the flooring of his business because time and time again, it was getting ruined. Taylor has owned the building for over two decades, and every time it rains, he gets worried.
“Several thousand dollars really in repairs and time. I’ve done a lot myself. I’m a small businessman. You can’t afford to come in and do it whenever you know it’s going to happen again. You don’t want to put that money in that when you know here, we go again,” said Taylor.
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On Tuesday night, Taylor said there was over 10 inches of rain sitting on the front patio of his business and over 2 inches inside his shop. He said it’s only gotten worse as the land around his shop develops.
Taylor, for the most part, is retired and is looking to sell his shop. Recently, he said a buyer fell through over concerns with flooding in the area and the damage his shop has seen over the years.
“Last night we were sitting there and were like yeah it’s raining pretty hard, so when I looked it was pouring, so I told the wife, ‘I’m going to the business, get ready, get the shop vacs up prepare the best I can but it was a lost cause last night so,’” said Taylor. “I’ve just gone over the years, ‘okay, this is a situation I may have to live with, but they need to do something. They come out and look, and nothing ever gets done”.
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Batesburg-Leesville Town Manager Jay Hendrix released a statement:
“Wednesday night, the town of Batesburg-Leesville experienced a significant rain event. Over a period of about an hour, there was a significant thunderstorm with heavy rain. Rain totals were around four inches around town, which led to localized flooding in several locations where we often experience flooding. While the town owns and maintains minimal amounts of stormwater infrastructure, we are aware of the impact these rain events have on our residents and businesses.
“The Town of Batesburg-Leesville recently was awarded a Safe Streets For All grant through the Federal Highway Administration. It is my hope that the town and the South Carolina Department of Transportation are able to partner on improving the stormwater issues that have plagued our town for many years. As storm frequency and intensity increase, we need to address the aging infrastructure that is in place to make Batesburg-Leesville a great place to live. I hope to meet with DOT staff soon to address a partnership that will allow us to improve these stormwater issues.”
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