Heavy rains cause citywide flooding, and there is more to come

Mayor Karen Majewski helped move cars stranded by Friday’s flooding.

Update: The state is offering financial relief to low-income households that suffered damages from the recent flood.
Those applying must own the home they are claiming damages for.
To apply go online to:
https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-landing-page?language=en_US
For those without internet access, you can contact the Hamtramck branch of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services Department at (313) 892-0180, or go there at 12140 Jos. Campau.
Also, State Rep. Abraham Aiyash is urging residents to fill out a survey about their damage so that state and federal agencies can coordinate services.
To fill out the survey, go online to: RepAiyash.com/flood

By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck’s perennial flooding problem once again visited the city on Friday.
An all-day rain produced 5 to 7 inches of rainwater in Wayne County, which then caused massive flooding throughout the area and the city.
Dozens of cars were trapped in pools of water underneath viaducts on the freeways, and also under viaducts in Hamtramck. Other low-lying areas in the city also had flooding.
Many households reported that their basements were backed up with water.
Hamtramck is no stranger to basement flooding, and throughout the years has experienced health concerns over raw sewage being backed up.
The situation is so bad it prompted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in Wayne County.
“We are continuing to work closely with emergency response coordinators and local leaders across the state to address widespread flooding,” said Whitmer in a press release.
“The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate our state’s response as we rush resources to affected areas, and the state of emergency declaration will help counties access even greater assistance.”
On the City of Hamtramck’s Facebook page it was announced:
“We have obviously suffered yet another historic rain event. At this point, our focus is first on the protection of the health and well-being of our residents, workers, and visitors.
“We have called in members of our Department of Public Services staff and other support to assist with flood remediation efforts. We are in communication with the Governor’s Office and are seeking guidance and assistance from other appropriate governmental agencies.”
There are also warnings of more flooding because weather forecasts predict continued showers this weekend, and possibly through next week.
Property owners are urged to document their flooding damages for possible reimbursement down the road.
Mayor Karen Majewski said, on her Facebook page, for homeowners to stack discards from your basement in the alley because there will be a special pick-up.
That pick-up date has yet to be announced.
Majewski also got into the action early Saturday morning by pushing out stranded vehicles.
Mridul Kanti Sarkar posted on his Facebook page what happened when he got stranded on Holbrook near the former American Axle plant. After not getting help from anyone, he said he contacted Majewski via Facebook at about 6 a.m.
“Within five minutes the mayor appeared and pushed some cars by herself to the side of the road to make the road passable. Then she dropped me off at my house,” Sarkar said.
Hamtramck’s issue with flooding goes back years. In the 1950s, voters had a chance to upgrade its sewer system but turned down a special tax proposal to finance it.
Following a massive 2011 flood, a group of homeowners successfully sued the city, which forced the start of replacing the sewer lines.
But the total cost to complete the job is estimated to be about $40 million – something that is out of the city’s financial reach.
In the meantime, the threat of basement flooding will continue for a number of years.
With this being an election year, the flooding prompted critics on social media to point fingers at the city council, the mayor and city administration.
One outspoken critic even said the flooding was proof of “corruption.”
Others said city officials have been distracted by issues like gay rights and marijuana dispensaries.
Some of those same critics are also against paying additional taxes to help solve the city’s ongoing financial problems.
Posed June 26, 2021