Black Mold in Olean

[Guest guest]

June 6, 2007

Black Mold in Olean

http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6623554

Imagine coming home each night to a house that's a breeding ground for black

mold.

A couple in Olean don't have to imagine it.

They've been living this nightmare for years.

It's a story you'll see ONLY ON 4.

" I want outta this situation I'm in, " said Olean resident Anne Landries.

Anne and Greg Landries of Olean say there's black mold in their house, and

they blame it on the city's sewer system. Every time there's a heavy rain, the

storm drains empty into the sewer system, and the sewage ends up rushing into

people's basements.

" And 2004, on Mother's Day was the worst one, that's when it was coming through

our washer, our back room, it blew the lid right off the washer, " said

Anne.

Last winter their doctor advised them the mold could be affecting their health.

" We'd wake up with a sore throat, I'd say, oh my gosh, I'm getting sick again,

you go out into fresh air you'd feel better, " said Anne.

Greg Landries shows us the cracks in his floors from the sewage flooding

" We have to get outta this house, " said Greg.

They've made two insurance claims against the city but were denied both times.

" I think the city should step up to the plate and do the right thing for these

people. We're not the only ones in this area suffering. It's more than us, " said

Anne.

" I feel sorry for them, I don't know what to tell 'em to do, " said Olean Mayor

Carucci.

But the city is planning to build a new pumping station.

" We are moving forward with fixing that problem. We've got a 2 and a half

million dollar construction project that we will bid out in December of this

year, " said Carucci.

Olean's Mayor says the city's infrastructure has been neglected for decades, and

it will take 2 to 3 years to fix the problem.