Princeton leaders working to fix flooding issues

By Michelle Mackonochie, WRAL anchor/reporter

Princeton, N.C. — While much of central North Carolina saw rain on Saturday, one area in particular is notorious for flooding.

Princeton residents said flooding is all too common for the town, and after Saturday’s rain it left a mess, again.

“We get water so bad sometimes we can’t even leave the yard,” said Terry Fraser. “When we get rain, we rain a lot … it’s a swimming pool every day.”

It’s a recurring swimming pool that town leaders have promised to fix, but residents said they’ve yet to see any progress.

Princeton Mayor Donald Rains said change is coming by the way of a multi-million dollar drainage projects.

A recurring swimming pool that the town has promised to fix. But Princeton resident Devin says he’s yet to see any progress

“We are making progress,” said Rains. “That’s why we have these projects — because we have a need.”

Currently, several projects are in place, including the Beaver Dam Creek project and the southern Princeton drainage project. Rains said it’ll affect hundreds of residences in the area.

Rains added that in the next two weeks, the town will be putting culverts under the railroad, which will let more water into Beaver Dam Creek.

“The North Carolina Railroad acts as a dam, and having new culverts under the railroad track will let water flow easier,” he said.

Town leaders will also be putting together stormwater drainage ordinances that will require retention ponds for subdivisions.

“We will work with the citizens to make sure their homes are protected as much as possible,” said Rains.