DETROIT – Over 150 families have been forced from their homes after a massive water main break sent feet of frigid water rushing across Southwest Detroit in ice.
According to a map from the Great Lakes Water Authority, the 54-inch water main that burst on Monday (Feb. 17) at around 2 a.m. affected residents from Lafayette to Waterman streets.
The icy incident took 11 different agencies, including firefighters, police, emergency responders, and dive teams from across Metro Detroit, who were on the scene for most of Monday from across Metro Detroit to help ferry homeowners to safety, away from the bone-chilling water.
Residents and responders talked to Local 4 about how chaotic their entire community was and, for many, still is.
“It was pretty chaotic as the water was high, a lot of people were getting pulled out of their houses in boats,” said Salvation Army Major Chris Wood.
It took boats and construction trucks to rescue entire families, including 54 adults and 22 children, who were carried to safety after the massive water main break in the area of Beard and Rowan streets.
A team of 80 city employees and community volunteers went door to door to check on families impacted by this water main break and help bring them out if needed.
“It started around one in the morning as water was rushing into the house, causing the basement to start flooding,” said another resident. “The street was flooded, the water started freezing up, car alarms started going off just in time the rescue team came.”
As many as 200 homes within one square mile of the massive hole in the ground were impacted, including Reyes'.
“My basement, my car, the yard, everything. My basement is full all the way up,” said Armando Reyes.,
We saw him chipping away at the thick layer of ice covering his car and sidewalk while neighbors returned home to retrieve their pets and belongings.
“It’s interesting as I’ve been all over the country doing these kinds of things, and this is very unique because of the time of year and the huge amount of families affected by this,” said Wood.
Wood spent the day stationed close by, providing relief for residents and first responders alike.
“We’ve been feeding people, giving them coffee, hot drinks, food, anything we can just to help them,” Wood said.
Reyes and some of his neighbors on Green Street planned to stay in their homes overnight, while others who lost power stayed with family and friends or took the city’s offer to stay at a hotel.
Everyone who was affected by the Southwest Detroit water main break can call 313-774-5261 for assistance with evacuations, repairs, and vehicle issues.
--> What Detroit officials will provide residents impacted by water main break
DWSD Director Gary Brown and his team will lead the recovery effort. The agency and the Great Lakes Water Authority agreed to split the cost of damages not already covered by homeowners insurance, so residents won’t have to worry.
DWSD said will soon provide the method that residents will use to request basement cleaning and other services.
Detroit’s water infrastructure is receiving considerable attention, so we wanted to examine it in greater depth.
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department system comprises more than 2,700 miles of water mains.
Over the last six years, the city has committed $100 million annually to address aging infrastructure and maintain its water and sewer systems.
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