Politics & Government
Rose Valley Residents Flooded by Storm
Some residents of Upper Southampton's Rose Valley section suffered heavy damage after flood waters from Irene hit their homes.
The flood waters had receded by Monday afternoon, but mud and debris still covered portions of Charles Street and Holly Drive in the township's Rose Valley section.
The flood, which happened at the peak of , was many feet high, according to neighbors whose homes were damaged.
Anna Malofiy, whose home is on the corner of Marian Avenue and Holly Drive, had water fill her basement and a nearly a foot of her first floor.
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"It was the worst it has ever been," said Malofiy. So bad, she says, the Southampton Fire Company was forced to come to help some residents escape their homes.
"I feel asleep at like 10, and then later I woke to water touching my feet," said Walt Fox, who was rescued by firefighters.
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Fox, owns the home on Holly Drive closest to the culprit -- the Southampton Creek.
Neighbors say the flooding from the Southampton Creek has gotten worse in recent years. Many believe the problem can be attributed to Southampton's slowly disappearing open space.
"They got rid of the field by CHI and are putting a parking lot. I don't understand it, I really don't," said Tony Gatto, whose home suffered damage due to Irene's flooding. His wife, Susan, said, Irene brought flood waters to the second highest level she has seen in 11 years and she too believes the lack of open space is one of the problems.
Malofiy said when she moved into her home 40-years ago she did not have serious flooding troubles, but it's gotten worse in recent years.
"They've added more [storm] drains (33 to be exact), and all they do is bring more water into the front of my house when it floods," she said in frustration.
She added, the Southampton Creek used to drain into a series of ponds that were in the woods surrounding the neighborhood, but when those ponds were filled in she and her neighbors began to face serious flooding problems.
Almost every resident Patch talked to Monday agreed there was only one real option at the moment. They want the government to buy their homes out, raze them, and leave the lots as open space or put a retention basin.
Many also talked about the proposed creek restoration that the township and saying it most likely won't help stop flooding.
For now, the residents say they will fix the flood damage and hope the waters don't rise again.
