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Flooded Derby Heights residents demand answers from Lafayette Consolidated Government

Posted at 7:04 PM, Jun 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-06 20:04:02-04

Today’s flood, unfortunately is a case of déjà vu for some in Lafayette.

The Derby Heights neighborhood of Carmel Drive flooded in 2016 and once again today. Now, residents are demanding answers from Lafayette Consolidated Government.

“It’s just unbelievable that we’re still having to deal with this in 2019,” said Cynthia Trahan.

She said it’s heartbreaking her neighborhood is dealing with flooding again.

Trahan’s home flooded in 2016. She said Governor Edwards and local officials visited; offering a promise of relief.

“We feel like we’re the left out neighborhood,” Trahan said. “We’ve been fed a lot of promises that have not taken place. Every single time that it rains, this is what we have to deal with. This is our home, this is our property and we want to protect it.”

Romano Celestine said, “Even if you get two inches of rain in a short period of time, it will get in the streets.”

Celestine has lived in Derby Heights more than 20 years.

“Every time the weather gets to a point like this, people get really aggravated and frustrated because you don’t know if you have to go through that all over again,” said Celestine.

Trahan said, “We just want to make sure we get the same treatment as other areas. We want to make sure that our promises that were made to us get fulfilled.”

A spokesperson for LCG said the Parish has received a grant for nearly two million dollars. One million will go towards Derby Heights drainage.

Crews are surveying the area and should wrap up by the end of June. The next step is for officials to decide what’s the best route to better protect the neighborhood.