Transcript:

In Philadelphia’s Eastwick neighborhood, heavy rain is cause for alarm.

Johnson: “If we’re looking outdoors and the rain is coming hard, everyone is in a panic.”

Lifelong resident Donna Johnson says during storms, water rushes in from upstream and fills the creeks in Eastwick.

It overflows the banks, flooding streets and homes in the low-lying area.

And the risks are growing as climate change causes more intense rain and rising seas worsen storm surge flooding from the nearby Delaware River.

For a long time, residents have pushed for the city to address the problem.

Johnson: “It took so long for this concern to be a concern of more than just the neighbors.”

But finally, momentum is building. The city has partnered with residents to develop a set of proposed solutions that was released this spring.

It includes building an earthen levee, improving stormwater drainage, creating a wetland park to absorb water, and offering buyouts to help people in the most vulnerable spots move to higher ground.

There’s a long road ahead to secure funding and implement the projects. But Johnson’s committed to keeping at it.

Johnson: “I love my neighborhood. … It’s home.”

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media