ATLANTA — Crews across the metro are cleaning up after the massive flooding while trying to prepare for the next storm.
They went to drain after drain, taking off manhole covers, clearing the muck and debris to make sure it flows smoothly, but they admit there is only so much they can do.
Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management was busy at work the day after a flash flood.
“We are working, like you’re seeing right now, with crews removing debris in our storm drains that’ll allow water to flow,” Watershed Commissioner Greg Eyerly Told Channel 2’s Michael Doudna.
Eyerly says Wednesday’s storm overwhelmed the current system’s capability, overflowing drains and stranding people and cars.
“I say all the time it rains here like Houston, where I most recently was from, but we have the topography of West Virginia. And that makes things complicated here,” he said.
Eyerly says Atlanta Watershed tries to mitigate the flooding, from having crews work around the clock to clear drains to the tunnels they have working to take water away beneath the surface.
But there is only so much they can do, as the system is outdated.
“We need to better our design. You know, the design standards that were in place 50 years ago are not the same as today,” Eyerly said.
Until the system is improved, Watershed workers will try to keep the drains clear and the water flowing, but it may not be enough when heavy rains hit.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
