SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Two Suffolk residents in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood in Suffolk tell 10 On Your Side they have devastating water woes.
Allen Banks and his wife Valerie Gallashaw told WAVY’s Andy Fox they are so upset about what has happened to them and their property, they are taking the City of Suffolk to court to get compensation for what they’ve lost.
The couple said they have suffered eight major floods at their home since 2017. Banks said the water comes from another property owner from the next street over, with storm water rushing through pipes from surrounding neighborhoods.
“Thousands and thousands of gallons of stormwater,” Banks estimates. He said the flooding from the side yard seeps into their backyard and their home.
While pointing to the top of a grate, Banks described what happens inside the grate covering the stormwater pipe.
“That’s where the water starts to back up, and it comes through here,” Banks said.
Banks told 10 On Your Side that the stormwater pipe is broken and that the city won’t fix it, but stated the City of Suffolk is aware of the issue.
“The City of Suffolk admits that there was joint separation in an underground drainpipe,” Banks said in regards to a court filing in response to the couple’s suit against the city.
Banks and his wife claim the city is using their private property for water retention and drainage and that since 2017, the city has done nothing to fix the pipe or the flooding.
Banks showed WAVY’s Andy Fox just how bad the flooding can get, with pictures and videos showing flooded streets going up both sides of his house.
“It’ll fill up all the way to that white fence,” Banks said.
You can even see Suffolk workers dispatched to the property.
“The City’s underground drainage facility no longer works as designed and instead discharges storm water onto [Banks and Gallashaw]’s property and occupies the private property as a public storm water pond,” Banks and his wife argue in their suit against the city.
In response to the suit, Suffolk repeatedly denied the allegations, and would not interview with us due to the pending litigation.
“They are overlooking us. [The city] is not considerate about the way we are living, what we have to go through and there’s no telling what’s in that water,” Banks told 10 On Your Side.
Banks also told us Suffolk considered an over $3 million storm water project to combat flooding in Banks’ neighborhood, but he said nothing ever happened, except for an offer while the couple was in mediation.
“We were in mediation, and they came back with the offer to buy the property,” Banks said. “Well, we are going to buy your house from you. You don’t want to fix the pipe but you want to buy the house? It doesn’t make sense.” No price was ever extended, according to Banks.
Banks and Gallashaw said they want to be compensated for what they call seven years of hell, mental anguish and suffering.
“I want them to pay for all my damages,” Banks said. “My vehicles, pay for all the damage to my house from the floods, it goes under the foundation and washes the sand away.”
When asked about why Banks contacted 10 On Your Side, he told us he wasn’t getting the help he needed.
“Why did I call 10 on Your Side? Because I couldn’t find help anywhere else,” Banks said. “I figured I could get some help from you, and I did, and I appreciate it.”
The civil suit seeks unspecified damages from the city and is set for trial on June 23, 2025.