BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Rita Campbell has lived on her corner lot for over two decades. But lately, every time it rains, she loses something.
“I suffer from depression already. I get in the bed and cry, cover up and cry ‘cause I know what I’m facing when I come outside,” Campbell said.
Her backyard becomes a pond when the rain comes. Tree limbs fall. The damage keeps adding up, including a cracked car windshield. Campbell has called the city and filed numerous 311 complaints. But for years, there has never been a permanent fix.
“I mean, I done called, I’d even sent pictures in, videos, I’ve done did it all. This ain’t just started. I’ve been calling for the last 6-7 years,” she said.
Neighbors face similar problems
Campbell is not alone. The drainage ditch behind her house is shared with neighbors. According to 311 reports in her area, since last year alone there have been more than seven requests for debris removal, tree trimming and drainage issues.
“Look at my poor neighbor’s yard, just look at that. It’s just awful, just awful. This is bad,” Campbell said.
Campbell is 62 years old. She put all her time and money into the house where she raised her family. Now she is watching it slowly deteriorate.
“What else? I’m out of money now, ain’t nothing I can do,” she said.
Campbell is not asking for much. She wants someone to step in and do what she cannot do alone. Until then, she will keep watching the rain come down and wondering what it will take next.
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