Residents of the Sans Pareil neighborhood are still dealing with flooded streets

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – Safety concerns and what happens next are on the minds of people living on dirt roads in Jacksonville.

Some residents on streets like Pemberton Street and Grasse Street said the constant rain has turned their street into a dangerous area.

“It’s been a hellish few weeks,” said Linda Hayes, a resident who lives on Grasse Street.

Hayes has lived on the street since the late 1980s and said this is the worst flooding he has ever seen.

She said it’s so bad that she hasn’t driven her car out of her driveway in more than a week, meaning she’s had to call in time off work.

“This is my only vehicle,” Hayes said. “I can’t afford to be out of work and I don’t want to ruin my car. I’m a retired person who does a little part-time work to make ends meet.”

On Friday, a dump truck became stuck in the middle of a dirt road on Pemberton Street. Hayes said it took hours before it was removed.

Hayes said this is not the first time this has happened and that is why some of the trash is overflowing from neighbors’ dumpsters.

She and others said they believe the water is unsafe and want something to be done.

“I would like to have proper drainage and help paying for it,” said resident Deirdre Laski.

Laski said he would also like a retention pond in the area to help alleviate some of the flooding in the future.

Their concerns are not going unnoticed. Ward 3 Council Member Will Lahnen sent an email to some residents on Friday.

It read in part: “I would like to arrange a meeting with interested Sans Pareil residents, the city’s public works department, the mayor’s office, the legal department and any other departments to discuss possible options going forward.”

News4JAX sent him an email asking when he expected this meeting to take place. He replied, in part: “I expect you will get a brief response in the coming weeks.”