Video: Rain and Dirt Roads Don’t Mix Well

LAMAR COUNTY, AL. (WCBI) – Tropical Storm Cindy is spreading bad weather across the Southeast, bringing lots of rain and strong winds to many areas.

More rain is expected to fall across our viewing area and some residents are prepping for the heavy downfall.

Rain and dirt roads don’t mix well.

These roads are usually the first ones that wash out or flood from heavy rains.

“Dirt roads, you’re going to normally have, you’ve got to switch drainage, move drainage to get the drainage right on the road, and if you have a big flood, then it’s normally going to move dirt,” says Lamar County EMA Director Luke Otts.

These potholes and muddy roads are the result of heavy rain in Lamar County.

“I have a four-wheel drive and it still, it does nothing when you’re going through the holes and gullies and everything,” says resident Jennifer Lawrence.

Lawrence lives off of Hells Creek Road, which she says becomes a major problem when it rains.

“We live on a dirt road and there’s a creek that runs right beside the dirt road. So anytime it rains, there’s a danger of the actual main road flooding. Luckily, we live towards the end of it so we can get out if we need to, but a lot of people on the other side have problems.”

She’s been battling the result of the rains for a few days, and that could get worse with more in the forecast.

“There was a point to where, I mean it was really coming down, and I wanted to come to town, but I’m like, I’m not going to chance it because if the culvert washes out I would be trapped.”

William Simpson is also battling wet roads.

“Around here, the roads are kind of iffy and driving back and forth to work, I drive a nice little distance, so it takes about an extra five minutes to get to work because I have to drive a little slower.”

EMA Director Luke Otts says there hasn’t been much flooding across the county, but they’re getting ready for it.

“The county crews for all of the commissioners are out working on the roads and improving drainage and improving everything along the roads trying to make the roads better. Normally,  that’s how we prepare and then you fix them as the big rain washes them out,” says Otts.

Otts also says there have been reports of a few trees down , and county crews have been busy working roads.