UPDATE: Effingham Co. couple loses equine business, home to floodwaters

EFFINGHAM, Ga. (WTOC) - [UPDATE 2:00 p.m. 8/28/2025] The FCS Equestrian Center has provided an update to the community via a post on social media, thanking supporters both locally and across the nation.

"Many of the volunteers had never handled a horse before, yet came out to help strip out the barn, handle horses, pack the house, and give the horses baths," the post states.

“Balfour Beatty, the construction company on the project, has been the most kind. They were out the morning after (8/23) doing everything they could to help move the water. Due to Balfour’s efforts, we were able to bring the horses home on Tuesday evening (8/26). Three of the pastures are still unusable; however, our arena which is nearly three acres, is being utilized as the additional space needed for the horses.”

However, the Equestrian Center is still worried about future rainfall.

“When we get another rain fall, we will be back underwater and we are due for more rain Labor Day weekend,” the post states. “As of now, GDOT has no comment on the water remediation. Neither does the county.”

You can read the full update from the FCS Equestrian Center here:

[ORIGINAL STORY] A couple in Effingham County lost their equine business and home over the weekend after floodwaters inundated their property.

The owners of FCS Equestrian Center in Rincon say Effingham Parkway construction caused the catastrophic flooding.

“In one evening, we lost our home and our jobs,” Justyne Albright, FCS Equestrian Center Owner.

What started as a simple rainstorm quickly became a nightmare flooding event as water rushed through FCS Equestrian Center Friday night.

Justyne and David Albrights’ home was caught in deluge, as were horses on the property.

The owners, with help from volunteers who raced to the center in Rincon, had to evacuate horses through nearly hip-high water.

“We had horses on property that we couldn’t get out because they were too old or had issues that they couldn’t physically make it through that amount of water,” said Amanda Michielson, client and volunteer.

While all the animals made it to safety, the damage couldn’t be erased.

The Albrights’ home was a total loss, and for days, part of the property sat underwater.

While dealing with the unimaginable, the community continued to step up—from donating bins and supplies for the couple’s dogs to helping with clean up as the water receded.

“Our equestrian community is very tight knit, and we’re always here to support one another. So not only is it just devastating for them, but it’s heartbreaking for the rest of us,” said Sydney Smith, FCS Equestrian Center Assistant Trainer. “I’m really proud to see how we rallied around them, but it should never have come to this.”

The Albrights opened the center in 2018.

Two years into calling the land home, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) acquired a portion of it through eminent domain to build Effingham Parkway.

As roadway construction progressed, so did flooding issues. Friday’s flood was the worst one yet.

Several inches of rain fell Friday night, causing water from the construction site to overflow and flood their property.

Justyne says poor drainage culverts are partially to blame.

“If GDOT does not rectify the flooding issues, there’s no way we can stay here. I mean the amount of hoof issues, skin issues, breathing issues that our horses have been going through during this whole construction process, we’ve lost a few horses because of it. We’ve had to sell horses from our program because of it,” said Albright.

GDOT and the county are working together on the Effingham Parkway project. A GDOT spokesperson says the state is funding and facilitating construction based off the county’s plans.

Despite plans to help reduce the impacts of future flooding events, Justyne says the damage has already been done, but it’s not too late to help others.

“We’re hoping that all of this will create that wave to let other people feel comfortable to make the complaint too,” said Albright.

For more ways to help FCS Equestrian Center, click here.

We reached out to GDOT and the county for comment on the flooding.

See Effingham County’s statement below:

GDOT sent us the following statement:

The Effingham Parkway Project is a collaborative initiative between Effingham County and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). 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.

Georgia Department of Transportation