Navigation

© Zeal News Africa

As more rain arrives, West Side homeowners are still recovering from 2023 floods - CBS Chicago

Published 9 hours ago3 minute read

/ CBS Chicago

West Side homeowners still waiting on assistance following 2023 floods

West Side homeowners still waiting on assistance following 2023 floods 02:08

Homeowners on the city's West Side are worried about more potential flooding as storms move into the Chicago area Friday night.

Many are still picking up the pieces from the destructive flooding damage from two years ago.

Homeowners said they just can't get ahead—saying the help they've gotten from the city or federal government simply isn't enough to repair their homes.

"After we finish cleaning up from one flood, then there's another flood," Debra Grant said.

Grant talks about the ongoing flooding she's seen on the West Side for the last 15 years.

"We have lost a whole lot of things that can't be replaced," she said.

In the summer of 2023, torrential flooding took over streets on the west side, backed up sewers, and flooded people's basements.

west-side-flooding.jpg
Summer 2023 flooding on Chicago's West Side.

Grant and other homeowners said their insurance companies backed out, sending responses that read, "sewer lines backing up into your home is not one of the covered causes of loss." Essentially, saying the city is responsible for any damages.

The city is in the process of finalizing a disaster recovery action plan with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

"Now y'all wanna come out with a five-point plan of what y'all wanna do with the money that's supposed to come to us? That's supposed to help us put our houses back together, that ain't right," Larry Quinn said.

Quin said his basement has tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. So far, he's only seen $1,900 from FEMA, much less than what he said he was promised.

"They had passed out something to help us clean our basement out. Who need a bucket and a mop and our walls is infected," he said. 

"This year, I still have water coming in the basement because the problem wasn't fixed in 23. That money should be put aside for us, to help us," Dorothy Rosenthal said.

As part of its action plan and in response to feedback from West Side homeowners, the city is planning to reallocate $15 million from infrastructure and mitigation to public services.

CBS News Chicago has contacted HUD and Ald. Emma Mitts (37th Ward) about when they can expect additional funds to come in. They have yet to respond. 

Asal Rezaei

Asal Rezaei joined CBS2 Chicago as a general assignment reporter in August 2021.

Origin:
publisher logo
cbsnews
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

You may also like...