An unexpected guest arrived in rural Alabama last Wednesday to pay a visit to the close-knit community of Shiloh, a place that is typically secluded from the public eye. Accompanied by two of his top officials, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made the journey to Shiloh in response to a request from local landowners. These residents have been grappling with recurring instances of flooding ever since the state expanded a highway that runs adjacent to their homes.
Many Black families in the Shiloh community have owned their land since the abolition of slavery. However, they now face the distressing reality of witnessing their properties succumb to flooding. These families express their deep concern to ABC News, as they fear that the water’s destructive force may wipe away the generational wealth they have painstakingly built over the past 150 years.
Pastor Timothy Williams, a long-time resident of Shiloh, has been vocal about the devastating impact of flooding and the damage it has caused to his home. Since 2017, when highway construction began, he has been raising his concerns. However, it was only last week that Williams felt his voice was finally being heard by those in positions of authority.
“It’s a promising feeling to have the opportunity to connect with the DOT and have them listen,” Williams expressed to ABC News on the eve of the visit. “I truly believe that assistance is on its way.”
After an in-depth investigation conducted by ABC News in October, a meeting was held between Shiloh residents and government officials in Washington last month. This visit from Buttigieg comes at a crucial time, coinciding with a civil rights investigation led by the Federal Highway Administration. The investigation aims to determine whether the Alabama Department of Transportation has engaged in discriminatory practices against the predominantly Black Shiloh community.
ALDOT firmly denies any allegations of discrimination in relation to the highway widening or its subsequent effects. The agency asserts that the flooding in Shiloh was not a direct result of the project and emphasizes its cooperation with the FHWA in presenting factual information regarding the Highway 84 widening project and addressing the concerns voiced by the residents of the Shiloh Community.
The investigation by ABC News revealed that the ALDOT contractors had knowledge of the flooding in Shiloh and the complaints made by residents while they were working on expanding the highway.
The federal authorities had the opportunity to witness the situation firsthand and assess it on their own.
Buttigieg strolled across the eroded muddy ground that turns into a water-filled mess when it rains. He observed the visible cracks in the brick exterior of Williams’ house, which the property’s insurer attributed to repeated flooding. He listened to the concerns raised by residents who shared their experiences of delayed emergency response times due to the flooding, as firetrucks and ambulances struggled to reach their homes.
“I won’t be able to forget what I just heard,” Buttigieg exclaimed.
‘There’s no more lynchings and hangings. It’s coming after your finances.’
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Melissa Williams, the daughter of Timothy Williams, expressed her unease with the safety of their family home during rainy weather.
ABC News interviewed a woman who shared her fear of going to bed at night, unsure if she would wake up the following morning.
The Williams family believes that their life in Shiloh is being threatened by more than just the water. According to Timothy Williams, since the initial ABC News investigation aired in October, he has experienced a decline in customers for his two businesses – a cleaning service and a restaurant.
“In Alabama, we no longer see lynchings and hangings,” Timothy Williams remarked, but instead, he noted, “they target your finances and relentlessly drain them.”
Despite the challenges, Timothy Williams has no regrets about speaking up for Shiloh’s plight.
“They want us to be silent,” he exclaimed. “But when they demand silence, we must raise our voices even louder.”
According to residents, it appears that the state has shown favoritism towards certain voices over others.
When Timothy Williams expressed his concerns to ALDOT, he felt that the agency attempted to silence him. Rather than addressing the issue of flooding, the state opted to sign settlement agreements with Timothy Williams and some of his neighbors. These agreements entailed a payment of no more than $5,000 to each individual, effectively relinquishing their rights to pursue legal action for flood damages in the future.
Just a short distance away from Shiloh, a local day care center experienced severe flooding due to the expansion of the highway, forcing it to shut down. The heartbroken owners, a mother and daughter who happen to be white, were devastated by the loss of their beloved family business. In this instance, ALDOT purchased a section of their land for $165,000, effectively barring them from pursuing any further legal action against the state.
Ronda Robinson, the owner of a day care center, expressed empathy towards the families of Shiloh, acknowledging the challenges they had to face during their struggle.
According to Peggy Carpenter, the $5,000 that some Shiloh residents received was merely a small amount in comparison.
She expressed her weariness with the constant battle.
Robinson and Carpenter expressed uncertainty regarding the potential influence of race on the disparity between the deal they received and the offer made to Shiloh homeowners. However, they acknowledge the possibility, noting that such bias would not be surprising coming from the state.
The call for additional help from Shiloh residents has been heard by the nation’s top infrastructure official after years of advocacy.
Timothy Williams praised Buttigieg for his ability to listen and engage with the people. According to Williams, Buttigieg truly heard their concerns and actively participated in finding solutions.
During one of his department’s busiest weeks, Buttigieg’s visit coincided with the bridge collapse in Baltimore and the disruptions to port operations.
Surprisingly, he found himself in a small and secluded community, far away from any bustling city or popular destination, and largely unfamiliar to the majority of people in the United States.
“The experiences of a homeowner in this Shiloh community carry equal weight to those in the wealthiest ZIP code in America,” Buttigieg emphasized. “Being acknowledged is one thing, but truly being seen is another.”
Journey to Justice Tour
Timothy Williams took charge of the officials and residents as they went from house to house. He made sure that everyone had a chance to speak up about their experiences with the flooding. This time, their voices were finally heard, as a loudspeaker was passed around to each resident in Shiloh.
During their walk through the neighborhood, the officials encountered a water moccasin, which is one of the common snakes and frogs found in Shiloh. They also observed a gas pipeline that had been relocated next to the Williams’ residence as part of the highway project.
The community’s collective experiences wove a tale of fear, grief, and an unfair burden.
Dr. Robert Bullard, a Texas Southern University professor and a native of the area, played a significant role in the tour. He is renowned for coining the term “environmental justice” and has written 18 books on the subject. Last year, he joined forces with Timothy Williams to bring Shiloh to the national stage. Bullard described the situation as a prime example of environmental racism, stating that it is a textbook case.
“They have endured the horrors of slavery and the oppressive era of Jim Crow segregation,” Bullard expressed, referring to the resilient members of the Shiloh community. “However, they are currently engaged in a battle against a highway project, an infrastructure development that seems to be unjustly robbing them of their prosperity and rightful inheritance. This situation is simply unacceptable.”
After the tour, Buttigieg engaged in conversations with several Shiloh residents, taking the time to listen to their individual concerns. He provided them with reassurance that he would take their issues back to Washington.
Speaking to the crowd assembled near the Williams’ residence, Buttigieg assured them, “I want you all to know that we not only acknowledge your presence, but we are also actively working on this matter at the highest levels of our department.”
He reassured the residents of Shiloh that they are not to blame for the flooding and its consequences. He emphasized that no one should have to endure the hardships they are currently facing.
In a one-on-one interview following his speech, Buttigieg expressed his department’s genuine concern regarding the highway’s impact on the community and the challenges faced by its members. He emphasized that this concern has prompted an ongoing investigation and proactive collaboration with the Alabama Department of Transportation.
The road ahead
Shiloh is not the sole community under investigation by the FHWA’s Office of Civil Rights, despite receiving a rare visit from senior officials. Typically, these investigations are expected to be completed within 180 days. However, the residents of Shiloh have been waiting for almost 600 days, more than three times the designated timeframe, without any resolution to their claims of discrimination or a remedy for their flooding issues.
According to an ALDOT spokesperson, the agency has collaborated with an engineering firm to create plans aimed at better managing stormwater runoff from ALDOT’s right of way.
In a statement to WDHN, an ABC affiliate, ALDOT denied any unfair treatment and firmly believes that the property owners in Shiloh have been adequately compensated for any inconvenience caused by ALDOT’s Highway 84 project.
ALDOT has presented two options to the residents of Shiloh. They can either sell their properties to ALDOT or choose to have the agency implement a project that will help retain additional water.
In the statement, it was mentioned that the decision would be in the hands of the individuals.
For Timothy Williams, selling his property is not an option. It would mean putting an end to a longstanding legacy of community and wealth creation that has been passed down through generations. According to him, the previous efforts made by ALDOT to address the flooding issue have not been successful in retaining the runoff.
Timothy Williams has a different vision for the use of funds. Rather than seeking monetary compensation, he aims to rebuild his family home to withstand future flooding by implementing measures such as raising the foundation and relocating it to drier land. His goal is to construct a resilient house that aligns with the overall resilience of his community.
“We are committed for the long term,” Timothy Williams declared. “I am fully dedicated to doing whatever it takes to achieve our goals. We are here to stay, and we won’t give up.”
For the Shiloh community, this struggle holds a significance that goes beyond seeking compensation for a mere inconvenience.
According to Bullard, the fight against road construction and flooding goes beyond the physical battle. It is a fight for the preservation of heritage and the well-being of future generations. The significance of this struggle lies in its connection to the inheritance of the people, their children, grandchildren, and the generations to come.
Buttigieg is optimistic about transforming that battle into concrete federal measures.
“I am committed to reclaiming our authority and collaborating with our sister agencies to deliver tangible outcomes,” he emphasized. “It is essential that we prioritize the well-being of the residents who call this place home.”
The Williams family viewed last week’s visit as a positive step forward.
“It doesn’t completely solve the challenges we’re facing,” Melissa Williams noted, “but it does bring a slight improvement.”
