SOUTH NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Erin Roland loves her home — but especially her backyard.
"This is why I bought this home. It was because of my privacy," said Erin Roland.
But even in her backyard, she says stormwater from the street finds its way in flooding the property.
After nearly 18 months of asking Metro Water Services for help, Roland now records every time water rolls off the street and onto her property.
"The tree roots are all exposed from where the water cascades over them," Roland said in her backyard.
Documentation matters. For Metro to put a project on its list, there needs to be property damage — or a threat to people or property.
But Roland's case is complicated by the age of her home. Like many in her neighborhood, it was built before Metro began requiring ditches and other stormwater infrastructure in 1979. Today, flood maps show Seven Mile Creek can reach her property, and Metro Water says it first has to determine where the water is coming from — the creek or the street. Her entire property is in a floodplain.
I went to Metro Water for answers on Roland's behalf. The money Metro has for stormwater projects comes from a relatively small charge on water bills. With limited funding, Metro has to prioritize projects based on how serious the flooding is, how many people it affects, the safety risk, and what it will cost to fix.
"Is it a $100,000 project that helps 20 people? Or is it a $200,000 project that helps two people?" said Sonia Allman, a spokesperson for Metro Water Services.
After requesting data from Metro Water, I found that 886 stormwater projects are already in Metro's queue. Some cost $100,000; others cost more than $5 million. Metro has about $11.7 million a year to spend on them. With that backlog, some lower-priority projects may not get done until 2032, and still, there's no guarantee.
"We really have to look at all of these different prioritizations when we're doing this," the Allman said.
On the other side of Seven Mile Creek from Roland's house is Elysian Fields Road. Homes on that street were built in the 1970s as floodways were only starting to be mapped. Metro was able to purchase a chunk of those properties after flash flooding in 2021 using buyout money. The area has been turned into greenspace.
Roland could potentially qualify for a similar option — but only under specific circumstances.
“The only other option would be if she had multiple claims of flood insurance through FEMA. Then, as FEMA home buyout funding is available, she could potentially qualify,” Allman said.
Roland did ask FEMA for help once but was denied because the flooding was not determined to be creek-related. That distinction could make all the difference in what happens next.
“I’m at my wits’ end with it, and I’m not really a person that won’t fight back. So that’s why you’re here,” Roland said.
Metro crews were out surveying Roland's property earlier in the week. We will continue following her case and report what Metro finds.
Check FEMA Flood Maps in Your Community
Use FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to determine whether your home or property is located in a flood zone.
View FEMA Flood Maps
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Every night, Forrest Sanders brings us stories showcasing the best of humanity. This story profiles, perhaps, Tennessee's most eccentric resident who made an impact on an aspiring journalist. I'm always in awe of Forrest's storytelling; I truly appreciated his vulnerability with this one.
- Carrie Sharp
