Covington apartment complex evacuated after retention pond floods

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A retention pond flooded, causing several apartments to be evacuated in Covington.  (Sandra Smith)

COVINGTON, Ga. - A retention pond flooded on Sunday due to heavy rain, causing several apartments to be evacuated in Covington, according to residents.

What they're saying:

The pond is located next to the Housing Authority of the City of Covington in the 5100 block of Alcovy Road.

Sandra Smith said she was in her apartment when the pond began to rise. She tried calling the complex's emergency maintenance number, but they allegedly told her it wasn’t an emergency.

Smith said she became concerned as the water approached her back porch. When it reached knee level, she called 911.

First responders from Covington’s fire and police departments responded. According to the Covington Police Department, officers and firefighters helped in evacuating residents from 25 apartments - all residents on Turner Street and the first several buildings on Nixon Circle.

Authorities tell FOX 5 that the evacuation was due to a concern that the lake's dam might not hold.

Smith said an officer carried her out of the apartment on their back. She said her whole building was evacuated due to the flooding.  

"I was expecting to go to church. Today was first Sunday," Smith said. "I don’t ever miss first Sunday, but I couldn’t get to my car."

Smith said the pond has risen before, but never like this.

"It’s real scary. That’s the reason I don’t understand why they don’t keep it cleaned out," she said. "I was worried because it was a retention pond. Strange-looking critters were coming out that I’d never seen before."