Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407280090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Some of their front lobbies still carry the high-water marks of the flood of 1985. Most still wonder when the city will solve the problem of storm drains that are inadequate to contain rampaging water.
``The drainage is so poor that water often shoots up from our commode,'' said Gary Wilson, general manager of Krisch Printing.
Wednesday afternoon, at least a foot and a half of water pooled in the street out front.
``I don't think anything about it anymore,'' Wilson said. ``I'm used to it.''
So used to it that he's keeping a record of how many times he's had water in his store. Wednesday's rain put that total at 26 since 1970.
John Prusak, 71, who runs the neighboring J.P. Tailoring Co., has a longer-range perspective.
He remembers Salem Avenue as a hot spot for flooding as far back as 1958.
``I remember a car floating in the back alley like a boat,'' he said.
Fortunately for Prusak, he built an extra-high entrance on the front of the building when he moved there four years ago, and Wednesday's flooding could only lap at the steps.
While some streets flooded, streams in Western Virginia stayed within their banks, the National Weather Service said. Within minutes, the water started receding.
Krisch Printing employees were barefoot and mopping water after it seeped underneath the glass door.
Out in the street, cars dodged manhole covers that had popped free from the pressure of the water. One parked car had water oozing out of its bottom after its floorboard filled with water.
On occasion, Wilson said, he's had to walk people across the flooded street to keep them from falling into manholes with displaced covers.
The water problem is made worse by large trucks that send waves of water crashing into the fronts of businesses.
Phil Schirmer, who was the acting city engineer on Wednesday, said he witnessed firsthand Salem Avenue under water.
He said he doesn't know if adjusting the storm drains would correct the problem, particularly when a torrential rain hits.
``You can't design a storm drain for this type of event,'' he said.
Schirmer said Salem Avenue has a creek underneath it that is channeled through a culvert.
He said high waters could be made worse by a lack of storm-drain outlets or obstructions in existing storm drains.
``I'll certainly be asking questions tomorrow,'' Schirmer said.
Bitter merchants said it's time for some answers.
``I think the city is spending its money in the wrong places,'' said one, who asked not to be named. ``Instead of giving [former School Superintendent Frank] Tota a big bonus or supporting Explore [Park], they should fix the storm drains.''
Wilson took dead aim on a downtown railroad theme park - the pet project of Mayor David Bowers.
``Instead of these playthings, they should take care of the people who take care of them first.''
by CNB