Petal Mayor Carl Scott says it would take at least $80 million to solve all the drainage problems that lead to the flooding of homes and trailers in his city.

Scott says the estimate comes from actual numbers from culvert and pipe laying projects the city has done in recent years. He says he receives calls from citizens about standing water on their property every time Petal gets a heavy rain.

Petal has several small creeks and branches that snake through parts of the city and empty into the Leaf River. Residents are hoping the city can find ways to widen ditches that feed these tributaries. Meanwhile, Scott says the city is doing what it can by attempting to make ditch work permanently effective by planting grass to prevent erosion.