As Hanna continues churning in the Gulf of Mexico, the Coastal Bend prepares for the effects of the storm, residents of Las Colonias are preparing for flooding.
The west side said they have struggled with flooding issues for years, and the impending arrival of Hanna has them even more concerned.
"How much is 'a little bit of rain?' " Plazola said. "Three inches to one part of the city is nothing. Three to four inches here, that means floods."
Nearby La Volla Creek is overgrown with trees and brush, they say, which makes the flooding worse.
Manuel Plazola, who resides in the area, said when they get a lot of rain, it's hard to know what to expect.
"The disappointment of not knowing how fast the water is gonna rise," he said. "How much time we have to get out."
Some residents have lived here for nearly 20 years and are frustrated with the situation, just like Plazola.
They say year after year, they have had to deal with floods in the area.
They blame the city for not cleaning nearby La Volla Creek, or their storm drains.
"All we're asking is for them to clean, at least every other month, so then after it can flow to Oso Bay," said Plazola. "It doesn't flow, it's so dirty."
Edna Rodriguez agrees.
"Years and years, we have been complaining to the city, but nobody listens to us," she said.
Both said a couple of inches of water could be disastrous for this neighborhood. Rodriguez is expecting the worst.
"We have the chance to lose everything again," she said
The General Land Office has given the city a $7.2 million grant to build a detention pond in the La Volla Creek area. The city council is expected to vote on whether to accept that grant during its next council meeting.