Five Weeks After Major Water Main Break, West Phila. Residents Still Dealing With Aftermath
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Five weeks after a major water main broke open spilling millions of gallons of water into a West Philadelphia neighborhood, residents of the area are still dealing with the aftermath.
Odessa Washington lives in the 500 Block of Creighton Street.
"Creighton was completely filled with water," she says, showing photos of the flood.
Washington says she lost her car and several feet of water filled her basement, damaging her new hardwoods on the first floor. She claims property in the basement was damaged beyond repair.
"My son's weigh bench, his laptop, my table, everything," says Washington.
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Five weeks later, Washington says the Philadelphia Water Department gave her a new water heater, built new steps to her basement and treated her walls for mold. But the aftermath of the flood remains, she's living on dirty wood floors and the basement is still moist. Plus, she hasn't been paid for lost property. The worst part she says -- there's company.
"All sorts of bugs," says Washington, "roaches, water bugs, thousand legs, bugs I have never heard of."
"The basements should be dry as a result of anything related to the water main break," says Debra McCarty, deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department. She says they finished repairs to the 130-year-old main a week ago and are now restoring the street. As for residents of the 80 damaged homes, most work is complete, but payout could take a while.
"It could take a few weeks because there are a few complicated claims -- and that takes time," she says.
McCarty says the department has cleaned 44 properties, made electrical repairs, treated nearly two dozen for mold and replaced 55 water heaters.
Shawn Miller has lived in the 600 Block of North 52nd Street for 35 years and says this is the third or fourth time the area has flooded.
"It very frustrating," he says, "each time it's gotten worse -- they just clean up and give you a hot water heater. But you don't know if you are living on a damaged foundation or breathing in mold."
McCarty says the area of 52nd Street, including Creighton, Paxon and Wyalusing, are at a low electation point.
"Everything kind of goes down to these properties," says McCarty, "so they really experienced the brunt of the water main break."
She says 52nd Street will be open for driving by Monday.