DEVELOPMENT BLAMED FOR JACKSON FLOOD

JACKSON -- The federal government made Barbara and Butch Bennett buy flood insurance. They never figured they would have to use it.

But a flash flood Friday night turned Hubble Creek into a river that damaged their home and other low-lying houses in the Sunset Hills subdivision off Highway 61.

The floodwaters quickly receded. But they left behind mud, debris and angry residents like the Bennetts, who accused the city of failing to take steps to address stormwater runoff problems caused by increased development in the area.

"It should have been addressed along the way," said Barbara Bennett as she and her husband surveyed a mountain of flood-damaged appliances, books, photographs and other belongings they had hauled to the curb to be thrown away.

Floodwater Friday night covered the ground level of their tri-level home in 4 feet of water.

The flash flood also damaged at least eight other homes, she said.

The Bennetts' home at 1434 Brookview is across the street from the usually calm creek.

The homes near the creek were built in the 1970s.

The Bennetts bought their home about four years ago.

Mayor Paul Sander said the Bennetts knew when they bought the house that it was in a flood-prone area.

"Her house has flooded many times before," he said.

"I guess you are taking a chance when you move into the floodway that you may be flooded," the mayor said.

The Bennetts said they had to buy flood insurance in order to secure a mortgage.

"We are not wanting people to feel sorry for us. We have insurance," said Barbara Bennett.

But she said water runoff has become worse in recent years because of development in the area along Highway 61 toward Fruitland.

She said the city has ignored the problem. Sander denied the accusation.

Mike McMillan lives on Francis Drive, which borders Hubble Creek.

The flash flood caused storm water to back up into his basement. He said he had eight to 12 inches of water in his basement.

"There definitely is a breakdown in their storm sewer system,' he said.

McMillan and his neighbors submitted a petition to the Board of Aldermen last year objecting to plans for construction of a bank at a site along Highway 61, across from Hubble Creek and their subdivision.

McMillan said about 60 people signed the petition, in part because of concern that the project would lead to increased storm drainage problems.

He and the Bennetts said the board ignored the problem and allowed the project to proceed.

The bank currently is under construction. McMillan watched the construction work proceed as he stood near his driveway Monday afternoon.

Sander agreed that increased development adds to water runoff problems.

"The more concrete you pour, the more water you are going to have in the creeks and the streams," he said.

The city, he said, implemented storm-drainage regulations within the past few years.

But he said Jackson has no control over development outside the city limits, such as along Interstate 55 at the Highway 61-Fruitland exit.

Cape Girardeau County doesn't have planning and zoning laws, although county officials are looking at developing such regulations, Sander said.

Sander said the city can't make changes to Hubble Creek or any other waterway.

"The city has absolutely no jurisdiction over altering creeks or altering the way creeks flow," he said.

Sander said he would talk with the Corps of Engineers and other government agencies about the situation.

But he said Friday's flash flooding isn't a normal occurrence. He said flooding along the creek was the worst in 20 years.

"I don't know that you can totally eliminate it. This is a very, very unusual situation," he said.