Residents at a Covington apartment complex faced sudden evacuation yesterday when a retention pond, swelled by heavy rains, led water to inundate their homes. The pond, adjacent to the Housing Authority of the City of Covington located on the 5100 block of Alcovy Road, was the apparent source of the flood, as indicated by firsthand accounts and local observations.
One resident, Sandra Smith, described to FOX 5 how the rising waters quickly encroached upon her abode, turning her expectations for a tranquil Sunday at church into a frantic quest for safety, and despite reaching out for emergency maintenance help she was allegedly told it wasn't an emergency which led to her calling 911 when the situation worsened. Covington's fire and police departments were reported to have responded to the distress calls, with officers conducting evacuations, carrying Smith to safety on their back as according to her interview.
Meanwhile, Sosa JaRico Hendrix, vising his sister at the complex, detailed the early morning shock to 11Alive News when a neighbor alerted them to the encroaching deluge, expressing his concern not only for his immediate kin but the vulnerable segments among the residents, such as the elderly and children; witnessing an alternative approach by first responders who opted to push a neighbor in a wheelchair through the waters instead of carrying her.
Some neighbors have mentioned that this sort of flooding is not uncommon after significant rainfall, however, the ramifications seemed more severe this time around, with damage reported to the structure like a ceiling that was compromised even before the latest inundation, as told by Hendrix to 11Alive News. The relief came later in the afternoon when the waters retreated around 1 p.m., offering a reprieve as folks like the woman in the wheelchair found refuge at a relative's apartment, grateful that her own living space was spared from water damage.
In the meantime, FOX 5 has reached out for comments from Covington departments but has not received a response yet.
