Transcript:
In Philadelphia’s Eastwick neighborhood, heavy rain is cause for alarm.
Johnson: “If we’re looking outdoors and the rain is coming hard, everyone is in a panic.”
Lifelong resident Donna Johnson says during storms, water rushes in from upstream and fills the creeks in Eastwick.
It overflows the banks, flooding streets and homes in the low-lying area.
And the risks are growing as climate change causes more intense rain and rising seas worsen storm surge flooding from the nearby Delaware River.
For a long time, residents have pushed for the city to address the problem.
Johnson: “It took so long for this concern to be a concern of more than just the neighbors.”
But finally, momentum is building. The city has partnered with residents to develop a set of proposed solutions that was released this spring.
It includes building an earthen levee, improving stormwater drainage, creating a wetland park to absorb water, and offering buyouts to help people in the most vulnerable spots move to higher ground.
There’s a long road ahead to secure funding and implement the projects. But Johnson’s committed to keeping at it.
Johnson: “I love my neighborhood. … It’s home.”
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
