Flooded St. Louis County communities press MSD on maintenance

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Flooded St. Louis County communities press MSD on maintenance

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO*

By Margaret Gillerman

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/27/2008

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/s

tory/5C184DDF029B9F82862574EF00066235?OpenDocument

University City — City officials are asking the Metropolitan St.

Louis Sewer District to turn over maintenance records after some

residents blamed the poor condition of River Des Peres and sewers

for aggravating a devastating flash flood.

MSD officials will face University City officials and residents at a

City Council meeting at City Hall tonight.

The community was hardest hit of many in St. Louis County when rain

from the remnants of Hurricane Ike washed over creek banks and

surged through houses and businesses Sept. 14, wreaking havoc and

drowning two people. Many residents are still cleaning up, and some

were left homeless.

Other communities also have channeled their frustration toward MSD.

It is the target of complaints and threatened lawsuits from

governments or individuals from Florissant to Overland to Creve

Coeur.

In University City, some outraged residents say that MSD contributed

to the disaster by not keeping River Des Peres free of fallen trees

and other debris. They say the result forced more water across the

land, made it swifter and overwhelmed sewers.

River Des Peres drains a large watershed in St. Louis and St. Louis

County, and a part of it south of University City is owned by MSD.

MSD officials say they will explain at the University City meeting

that private property owners are responsible for keeping River Des

Peres open.

" We don't clear the creeks of brush, tires or debris or natural

refuse, " said Lance LeComb, MSD spokesman. He said the city could do

it if it chose.

And MSD also plans to say the storm was so large and destructive

that clearing the river wasn't an issue.

" It wouldn't have mattered a bit, " LeComb said. " This was a

hurricane that wiped cities off the face of the map in Texas. " The

damage " was a function of too much rain in too short of a time, " he

said. " This was an act of God. "

MSD has given University City one report on material requested and

plans to provide additional information.

Overland Councilman Beth Conlon said that after the flood,

residents tried for hours to get through on MSD phone lines. They're

now upset at receiving letters denying assistance. Conlon said some

people " are low income and this rain caused 3 to 4 feet of ...

sewage in many peoples' houses. "

MSD, Conlon said, needs better oversight.

In Florissant, displaced homeowners, some in tears and with tens of

thousands dollars of damages, showed up at a meeting and accused MSD

of negligence. One council member threatened a lawsuit.

MSD officials met with FLorissant officials and Hazelwood residents

and plan to meet with the Ferguson City Council. The agency says the

problems were " unprecedented in MSD history and the region. "

Thousands of homes suffered sewer backups through drains, sinks and

toilets. Water cascaded across streets and yards and through

windows, destroying appliances, furniture, floors and walls.

" The main issue facing residents now is dealing with the mold, " said

Feier, city manager in University City. She said that New City

Fellowship, a volunteer organization working with victims, told her

a 5-year-old girl was in critical condition at a hospital with what

may be a mold-related illness.

MSD's Basement Backup Insurance Program provides up to $2,400 per

customer for backups related to overwhelmed sewers. As of Oct. 10,

the agency had received more than 7,900 calls related to the storm

and expects to cover about 3,000 claims.

There is no coverage for overland flooding, defective sewer lateral

lines or downspouts connected to a home's internal plumbing.

Creve Coeur resident E. Byrd appealed his denial right away.

" I happen to be one of the unfortunate homeowners that suffered

water damage in my finished basement from raw sewage spewing out of

my main sewer line — I even have a video of the water gushing up, "

he said. " It's ridiculous. "

Said MSD's LeComb: " We certainly empathize with the pain that many

are feeling as a result of the flood, but when you live in a flood

plain, these are the risks that you live with. "

He emphasized, " Unfortunately, we are not a disaster agency or an

insurance company. " He said property owners and renters should carry

private flood insurance with a rider for basement backups.

Many residents say they were unaware they were in a flood plain

because they live so far from a major river.

mgillerman@... | 314-725-6758