EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. () — In one evening, an Effingham County couple lost their home and equine business to a flood.

On Friday evening, after a summer storm, David and Justyne Albright noticed the sound of rushing water in their yard. They reported that the construction of the new Effingham Parkway road, located behind their barn, had been washed out. This upcoming parkway is set to pass through their property, acquired via eminent domain.

David said, “By the time we were done moving the car, it had reached the house. We got in the house and got a couple of things up off the floor. About that time, the door opened, and it was coming into the house.”

By dark, the couple said the water was at their knees. Their concern shifted to the horses.

“We just had to start pulling from the fields,” Justyne said. “The first horses we got were our client horses or guest horses that were staying here for an upcoming event. We evacuated them first, then we went for the horses that were standing in the most water.”

Since the couple bought the property in 2018, they said they’ve only feared flooding once, during Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. They said that standing water in their yard was nothing compared to the flood this time around.

reached out to Effingham County and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for comment on the Albright’s concerns.

“The Effingham Parkway Project is a collaborative initiative between Effingham County and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT),” a spokesperson with GDOT said. “This project involves creating a new county roadway sponsored by Effingham County, which utilizes their roadway design and acquired right-of-way (ROW), with Georgia DOT’s assistance in funding and managing the project’s construction contract.”

A spokesperson with the Effingham County Board of Commissioners sent the following statement:

“Effingham County recognizes the challenges that recent flooding has caused for residents and property owners. The county has received approximately 11 inches more rainfall year-to-date compared to 2024. Combined with the region’s naturally high water table due to its proximity to wetlands, these conditions have significantly contributed to the flooding being experienced in parts of the county.

In addition, the county received up to 5 inches of rainfall within a 48-hour period leading up to the most recent flooding, which placed further strain on already saturated conditions. The County is also working with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to review

local drainage infrastructure near the Effingham Parkway construction site to determine whether

drainage issues may have contributed to the flooding and what if any improvements could be made.

The conditions at this location are further exacerbated by the fact that it is located in a “Flood Zone A”, which is considered by FEMA as high risk of flooding. Effingham County will continue monitoring conditions and coordinating with state partners to address contributing factors and help reduce the impacts of future flooding events.”

David and Justyne said the parkway development is pushing them to consider moving their home and business elsewhere.

“I think it’s also poor research and development,” Justyne said.

In the meantime, the community has covered the couple in love and support, from raising over $25,000, to helping with labor.

“We’ve had so many volunteers that have never touched a horse a day in their life that showed up and did hard labor yesterday,” Justyne said. “We should be able to salvage most of the things in our home, because volunteers came out and just started packing things and taking things that were wet but could be washed and salvaged right away to wash and salvage it. I can’t even put into words how grateful I am.”

When visited the center Tuesday, volunteers were helping bathe the horses and treat their skin for rain rot. The flood also impacted a few of the horses’ diets, which David and Justyne said they are monitoring.