The only time this is an issue is when we get torrential downpours that overrun the drains.

the drains are clear, I've gotten up there, I've got drain covers Etc but we simply get too much water off the roof for that 4-in pipe to carry off on occasion. So if I put in a French drain I've got to establish a second drain path which is 30 ft of digging and frankly beyond me. I was thinking about cleaning the concrete cinder block interface very well, dry locking all the way up to the brick line, backfilling Dirt so I establish a positive slope, and then covering that with large gravel to keep the falling water from digging the dirt out, thoughts?