s Branch neighbors suing over flooding

[Guest guest]

s Branch neighbors suing over flooding

Posted: 6:03 PM Nov 17, 2008

Last Updated: 6:03 PM Nov 17, 2008

Reporter: Gene Petriello

Email Address: gene.petriello@...

http://www.wrdw.com/homeandfamily/headlines/34606969.html

Click to play video

News 12 First at Five; November 17, 2008

WRDW-TV - Augusta,GA,USA

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. --- Three days after the s Branch

neighborhood flooded, people are still cleaning up their homes. The

homes have only been there for a few years, but it's a long few

years of problems. Now, there is a flooding lawsuit filed by people

who live there.

The make-shift lake from Friday is gone, at least on the outside of

Hardy's home. Outside, there is a hose that's pumping water --

almost 7 inches of water -- out from underneath his home. " [i went

in] and scuba dived underneath my house, " says . " I already

have growths underneath my house because of this water problem and

my wife is a nurse. She warned me, showed me all of the medical

documents what it can do to my 14-month-old. That's a very big

concern for a new father. "

says he has mold growing on the wood on his home and on his

neighbor 's home, too. So, they called in a private engineer

and he found some mold on the wood.

" Just thinking about what my son is breathing in... because of this

(the mold), " says .

That same engineer filed his findings with the Aiken County

Courthouse. In it, he says he found foundation defects, drainage

issues, storm drainage defects and more on the two homes.

and his neighbor also filed a lawsuit in the courthouse

against the City of North Augusta, the builders and others involved

in the construction. They allege the builders obtained building

permits for the homes, built them, then the city signed off

approving the elevation of the moves, even when they allegedly knew

storm water would not drain properly.

" Very frustrating, very stressful, " says Perdue. " I can't

sleep at night, can't enjoy your life. I've lost 30 months of my

life here. "

The City tells News 12, they're not responsible for the way homes

are built on the lot where they live and that their building code

does not address drainage issues on properties. But, the City does

say they check during and after the construction to make sure other

building procedures are followed. They tell us, if someone lives in

the home, it's assumed all codes were met.

According to the Center for Disease Control, mold is found both in

and outdoors and can enter through doorways, windows, vents and air

conditioning systems. It grows where there is a lot of moisture.

Mold can result in bronchial problems, because once it's inside, it

can spread to your clothes, furniture and even your pets. Now, you

can control this by fixing leaky roofs, windows and pipes, cleaning

and drying surfaces after a good rain or flood and making sure you

shower. Do your laundry and cook in areas that are well ventilated.

In South Carolina, if you're looking for help, you can contact the

Bureau of Air Quality out of Columbia at (803) 898-4852 and if

you're out of the state, you can contact the EPA Indoor Air Quality

Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318.