Snow melting combined with rain has left neighborhoods across Wayne County a mess.
In Dearborn Heights, Ecorse Creek is so high that it’s spilled onto the streets.
Areas like Amherst Street near Beech Daly and Hanover and Currier streets near Telegraph Road had submerged cars, floating trash, and people wading in knee-deep water on Friday (Jan. 26).
“When we went to bed last night, there was none of this,” said James Monette.
“This is horrifying and frustrating,” said Kyia Dingwall.
Friday, residents spent all day assessing the damage.
“Our car is stuck down there in the driveway, we can’t get it out,” said Michael Berry. “You see, these other people tried to come through, but their cars are floating.”
“I just literally remodeled my entire basement, put a new fence up in the backyard, redid my patio, and all new furniture in the backyard was lost again,” Monette said.
Dingwall said, “My tenant’s car is completely soaked, the driver side and then the passenger side there’s literally this much water in his car is completely.”
Monette said he bought his home in 2014 and has experienced flooding at least three times.
“I’m so over this,” Monette said. “I want to sell now, but what’s the property value going to be once they learn it floods every four or five years? I’m at a loss, and the frustration is to the point of what do I do?”
Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi said the city has worked out a contingency plan with the waste company to pick up trash once the water has gone down.
The city also passed out flood clean-up kits from Wayne County and the American Red Cross and has tow trucks on standby.
Dearborn Heights is working with the Army Corp of Engineers for long-term solutions.
“They’re working on a design phase right now of trying to do a retention/detention basin off of Inkster and Power,” Bazzi said.
He said that would cost about $30 million. The city is also in the process of applying for more FEMA grants.
“We’re trying to purchase as many homes as possible in that area so we can demolish them and try to retention/detention basin in that area, a rain garden to make sure the water goes to that area and away from people’s home,” said Bazzi.
If you’re in Dearborn Heights and impacted by the flood, visit the city’s website for resources.