Dearborn Heights Neighborhoods Under Water
DEARBORN HEIGHTS (WWJ) - With record rain falling and a flood watch in effect into the evening, Metro Detroit households are struggling to stay above water.
Reporting from a neighborhood west of Telegraph and north of Van Born Road in Dearborn Heights, WWJ's Marie Osborne said that several streets were under about 5 to 6 feet of water.
"In one section of this roadway (Hanover Street), it's completely flooded. The water is completely up to the doorways of at least a half-a-dozen homes right now and it is rising," Osborne said.
"I'm watching right now as neighbors are frantically running from one door to the other trying to help one another to seal up doorways and to help some of the elderly neighbors who live on this street who are absolutely devastated by this," she said.
Osborne reported there were about three or four blocks in that area dealing with the same situation.
"I ran into one woman who couldn't even talk to me on tape, tears in her eyes," reported Osborne. "There she is with a plastic bag, trying to get her belongings into a plastic bag, hoping to try to save something."
"We've put boards up on the doors, and caulked it - but this is ... I want the Mayor, I'd like the Mayor to come out here -- to spend one hour in my house to see what we are going through," said resident Henry Hentick.
Hentick has lived in the area for about nine years and tells WWJ about one elderly neighbor he has helped: "(She)don't have no flood insurance, can't afford it, she's on a fixed income, everybody volunteers to help her - now what is she going to do, her husband has passed away - 11 years ago she totally lost her house, (from water)," said Hentick.
Residents of those Dearborn Heights neighborhoods tell WWJ this is not the first time this is happened, and they are demanding answers from City Hall.
While Osborne was in the area a City of Dearborn Heights truck pulled up and someone stepped out and took pictures and then left.
Traffic along the Southfield Freeway in Dearborn was backed up from Outer Drive from north of Village Road due to flooding. WWJ's Pat Sweeting reported the service drive will get motorists past that area. The Outer Drive entrance just past the flooding was reopened while the Oakwood entrance ramp remained blocked by police tape and standing water. - More on our traffic page -
This all comes ahead of the first big snow of the season, with up to three inches expected to fall late Tuesday into Wednesday. A Winter Storm Watch will be in effect for the western suburbs Tuesday evening, including Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw and Lenawee counties.
- More forecast details here -
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Many areas of Southeast Michigan are dealing with similarly waterlogged roads while an estimated 35,000 homes and businesses were without power.
For the latest details, keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for traffic and weather on the 8s, 24-hours-a-day.
