Heavy Rain Could Overwhelm Dothan's Drainage System
By: Jamiese Price
Updated: February 22, 2013
Dothan is pretty fortunate when it comes to flooding. The city sits on higher ground than some of its neighboring towns, but there are some low lying areas that are prone to flooding.Dothan's drainage system is designed to carry off several inches of rain over 24 hour period. Public Works Director Jerry Corbin said, the storm drains can't handle several inches of rain in a short time like we saw a few weeks ago.
"It could rain eight inches in a day as long as those eight inches are stretched out most of the day the system would handle it fine, but when it rains six to eight inches in four or five hours the system can't take it. It's not designed to take it," explained Corbin.
To prevent the flooding Corbin said the city depends on drainage ditches and inlets. He said often times people throw debris and trash into those ditches making it difficult for the water to flow through. The streets are designed to hold water and prevent it from going into homes and businesses
