WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Heavy rains can mean a higher chance of flooding, and maintenance crews are trying to stay ahead of it.
City workers in Winston-Salem clear out storm drains every day, but during a period of high rain, like yesterday, they called in an extra crew.
“A crew came in last night,” said maintenance worker Raymond Winters. “Ordinarily, no one comes in and works nights.”
Winters said it’s not uncommon for them to clear as many as 100 storm drains a day. When there’s a lot of rain, he said the volume of what they are pulling out of the drain increases.
“The little aluminum scooters, we find a lot of those in there,” Winters said.
Winters said that people can help alleviate some of the clutter that clogs drains by following this advice.
“Don’t put your brush and cut off leaves out in the curb line,” he said. “Lay it back behind the curb line so it doesn’t wash into the drains.”
Keeping storm drains functional, he said, helps prevent flooding of properties and homes.
“If the water doesn’t drain like it should, sometimes it goes back towards a person’s house,” he said. “Could get in their basement, definitely in their yard.”
