As most residents are aware, a 54-inch water main broke in the early hours Monday morning, causing flooding in southwest Detroit in the area of Chatfield (north) to Lafayette (South) and Lewerenz (east) to Solvay (west) impacting about 400 homes.

Residents impacted by the water main break may call the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department at (313) 774-5261 (24-hour hotline) for emergency assistance resources and to report water damage. This line will help people in need of temporary housing and/or those who experienced damage from the flooding. The City has arranged for families who cannot stay in their homes due to lack of heat, electricity or water to stay in a hotel and will be providing guests with meals. This line will also help connect those affected with the following resources:

  • Repairs or replacement of flooded furnaces, water heaters and appliances at no cost.
  • Towing of damaged vehicles to Detroit Police’s Fourth Precinct for free storage.
  • Uber rides covered by the City for those whose vehicles were lost or damaged.
  • Basement clean-ups and home inspections starting as soon as the water recedes​​.

Impacted households can now submit their claim online. City inspections are required before basement cleanouts, sanitizing services and any emergency repairs are scheduled with DWSD. Please review and sign the waiver before contractors can be scheduled to perform the essential work, if you are one of the impacted households.

Additional Resources: 

Kemeny Recreation Center

2260 S. Fort St. Detroit 48217

(313) 628-2819

Patton Recreation Center

2301 Woodmere St. Detroit 48209

(313) 628-2000

Santos Church 

1953 Military St. Detroit, MI 48209

(313) 327-2141

Urban Neighborhood Initiatives

8300 Longworth Detroit 48209

(313) 841-4447

LA SED Senior and Youth Center

7150 Vernor Hwy. Detroit 48209

(313) 841-8840

Detroiters Helping Each Other

(313) 704-5392

American Red Cross

(313) 833-4440

Americorps Center for Urban Studies

(313) 993-7213

Both the City water department and the region’s water regulator are managing the clean-up and assessing damages. Crews have been on-site and remain actively engaged in repair efforts. Residents are being advised by the City to file a claim with their insurance company first, and that DWSD and GLWA will cover the cost of damage that is not covered under insurance. 

Below are linked resources from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services’ (DIFS) website that residents may find helpful when working with insurance companies to file a claim and repair damages. DIFS can help answer questions regarding what an insurer must do and help explain policy language.     

Additional information regarding disaster preparedness, as well as how to file a complaint against an insurance company with DIFS, is available on the DIFS website at Michigan.gov/DIFS under the “Consumer” dropdown.  

Please feel free to contact the Office of Consumer Services toll-free Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at (877) 999-6442 with any questions you may have. 

You may also reach out to me and my staff with any questions, comments or concerns you may have at (517) 373-0154, toll-free at (888) 254-5291, by email at TyroneCarter@house.mi.gov or through my website. 

In Service,

 

 

 

 

Tyrone Carter

State Representative

1st House District