By Kaylon Jackson
It is no secret that rain in Lubbock means flooded streets. Many students have wondered: What is the reason? And is anything being done to fix this problem?
Ken Rainwater, a civil engineering professor at Texas Tech, said one of the main reasons for the water buildup is because Lubbock is in a flat area. In cities like Dallas, street slopes allow the water to drain more easily.
Another factor is that as Lubbock has grown, more parking lots and buildings have been built, stopping water from soaking into the ground.
“One of the challenges we have … is that a big part of the campus, Drive of Champions and Flint Avenue, ends up going into University Avenue,” Rainwater said. “When that fills up, it hits toward Marsha Sharp Freeway.”
Photo credit: Kacie Philips
Although there are drainage sewers near Marsha Sharp Freeway and 19th Street, they can accommodate only small amounts of rainfall.
Because of Lubbock’s location and structure, flooding cannot be prevented, Rainwater said. However, there are several ongoing efforts to combat the problem.
Mike Gilliland, Lubbock’s public works superintendent, said the Texas Department of Transportation is currently involved in a project to improve the drainage along Marsha Sharp Freeway.
Another major project is taking place along Quaker Avenue, where a new, 50-foot-deep sewer system is built to relieve flood risks for hundreds of homes in the area. The main goal, Gilliland said, is to decrease the amount of water in the Playa Lakes so that water draining from the roads will have somewhere to go.
Other possible solutions for property owners and municipalities include detention storage, underground sites, and the use of porous pavement.
Detention storage keeps water within a portion of a property, slowly releasing it after a storm has ended. Underground sites are a more expensive option, holding water underground for a period of time.
The third option, porous pavement, has tiny holes in it, allowing water to drain and later be relocated.
Detention Storage
Until flooding in Lubbock is at least mitigated, it will remain one of Texas Tech students’ favorite subject for horror stories, such as this raw video shared by Texas Tech senior Robyn Adams.
Rainwater’s advice to Lubbock drivers is to avoid being in a hurry during and after rainfall.
“I encourage students to pay attention to the weather,” he said. “Prepare accordingly and have what you need.”
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