RINCON, Ga. — An equestrian farm in Effingham County has been devastated by flooding, leaving its owners homeless and forcing the evacuation of more than a dozen horses.

FCS Equestrian Center, located on Forest Haven Drive, was overwhelmed Friday evening when heavy rain washed onto the property from the ongoing Effingham Parkway project, according to owners Justyne and Dave Albright.

Sudden rush of water

“Dave, my husband, came into the barn abruptly after playing with our dogs. Looking ghost white, he said to me that we are going to have huge problem and to put the pony up,” Justyne wrote in a detailed Facebook post. “Before we could comprehend what was fully happening, the dirt that was put down a couple days prior began washing away and water was quickly rushing onto our property.”

Within 15 minutes, water was knee-deep. The Albrights, along with volunteers, scrambled to move horses to higher ground. Fifteen horses were evacuated by 1 a.m., while others were left in the only dry areas available until daylight.

“The feeling of opening your front door and water being the same height as it is outside really sinks your stomach,” Justyne wrote. “In all the years and with all the storms, we have NEVER flooded like this! The Effingham Parkway project is the culprit.”

The couple’s home was deemed uninhabitable by the American Red Cross. They also lost feed, hay, equipment and personal belongings in the flood.

In an interview with WJCL-TV, Albright described the moment water began surging onto the property. “We could just see the water gushing like a dam broke,” she said.

Sydney Smith, an assistant trainer at FCS, told WJCL-TV she rushed to the farm when she got the call. “Everything, it was a lake. The entire property up to the road was completely flooded,” Smith said. “So we started walking down, and by the time we got to this pasture here, the water was up to our knees.”

Parents of students also voiced their concerns to WJCL-TV. “It is truly heartbreaking that this could have been avoided,” said Briana Phillips, an FCS parent. “Seeing my daughter’s face when you tell her that a show is cancelled, you can’t go riding, you can’t go see the horses, is truly heartbreaking.”

Smith said the farm is a vital part of the local equestrian community. “Terrified, terrified and heartbroken for Justyne, this farm, and the program that she’s built is a cornerstone in our community,” she told the station.

County response

Effingham County, in a statement released today, said it recognizes the challenges that recent flooding has caused for residents and property owners. Officials noted the county has received approximately 11 inches more rainfall year-to-date compared with 2024. Combined with the naturally high water table and the area’s proximity to wetlands, those conditions have significantly contributed to flooding in parts of the county.

The county said it also received up to 5 inches of rainfall within a 48-hour period leading up to the most recent flood, further straining already saturated ground. Leaders are working with the Georgia Department of Transportation to review drainage infrastructure near the Effingham Parkway construction site to determine whether problems there may have worsened the flooding and what improvements could be made. The location is also in a FEMA-designated “Flood Zone A,” considered a high risk for flooding.

Questions over parkway drainage

Albright told WJCL-TV she believes poor drainage design tied to the parkway construction contributed to the flooding. “I’m not saying that the washing down there caused all of this, but it just really proved that the drainage that they have in place is not adequate,” she said.

The Albrights, who opened the farm in 2018, now face the possibility of relocating their business. “More than likely, if we cannot get the County or the state to resolve the flooding issues, we’ll have to move our business,” Albright said. She added that the center likely will not be operational until winter.

Community rallies with support

Meanwhile, support has been pouring in. A GoFundMe campaign launched by family members has raised more than $20,000 to help the Albrights.

“This GoFundMe seeks to provide urgent relief to help them recover their home, care for their animals, and begin the long road to stability,” said Brian Hill, communications manager at GoFundMe.

The family is also seeking donations of totes, dog beds, toys, and volunteers to help with cleanup efforts.

“THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that helped evacuate horses! THANK YOU to the hosts of our evacuated horses!!” Justyne wrote in her Facebook post. “Seeing the devastation in the sunlight was extra heartbreaking. Everyone that I am thanking, you know who you are, we see you, appreciate you, love you!”

For more information on how to help, visit the farm’s Facebook page.