This is a weekly feature called Community Notebook, filled with snippets of information, conversations, and reporting about the communities where we work. Canopy Atlanta Fellows and other community residents may contribute to this weekly reporting. The Community Notebook is featured in our newsletter Voices — sign up to find this in your inbox every week.
Last week, heavy rains once again brought flooding to the Westside of Atlanta. Neighbors took to social media to share videos of water pouring into their yards, while several streets became impassable. On Hollywood Road, a MARTA bus had to call for help, and on Johnson Road, even a firetruck struggled to push through the high water.
This was not an isolated incident—it’s part of an ongoing struggle for Westside residents who live with chronic flooding and stormwater runoff. While projects such as the creation of Cook Park have provided some relief, the community remains burdened with aging infrastructure, clogged drains, and inadequate stormwater systems that cannot handle frequent heavy rains.
Environmental groups and community advocates are raising concerns that these repeated flooding events are not only a safety hazard but also a public health and environmental justice issue. Floodwaters carry pollutants, debris, and runoff from industrial sites, worsening conditions for residents who already face environmental and economic pressures.
To demand action, local residents have launched the Stop Flooding Us petition, calling on city leaders to invest in stormwater infrastructure, clean clogged drains, and protect communities from toxic runoff linked to the downtown Gulch and other problem areas.
Together, we can push for solutions that ensure Westside neighborhoods are no longer left underwater.
I hope this story leaves you inspired by the power of community-focused journalism. Here at Canopy Atlanta, we're driven by a unique mission: to uncover and amplify the voices and stories that often go unheard in traditional newsrooms.
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Floyd Hall, co-founder
