Sep 21, 2009 11:09 pm US/Eastern
Cleanup Continues After Dundalk Water Main Break
Reporting
Adam May
DUNDALK, Md. (WJZ) ―
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A water main break floods a Dundalk neighborhood.
CBS
Three days later and there's still an incredible mess in Dundalk. It could take weeks before things return to normal. A 72-inch water main burst on Friday, filling the streets and homes with water.
Adam May explains how the problem is turning into a nightmare for some homeowners.
Even though the crews have been there since early Monday morning, they have yet to even reach the broken pipe. That's an indication of the intensity and magnitude of the repair work ahead.
"I can't understand how a product like that can collapse," said one person.
In the past year, three massive water main breaks in Maryland are the result of one type of disaster: a manufacturing default in the piping, which was installed in the early 1970s.
"This new product is steel inside, concrete around that, wrapped with steel wire around that. Basically, that was seen as state-of-the-art at the time," said Kurt Kocher, Department of Public Works spokesperson.
Investigators believe the metal coil exploded, sending millions of gallons of water exploding Friday.
Public Works crews will bring in heavy pieces of equipment Tuesday to excavate and replace the broken pipe. Only then can reconstruction begin on the highway that collapsed during the break.
As part of the investigation, crews will send pieces of the broken pipe to labs to learn what caused the burst.
Derek Valcourt has more on the fights some homeowners are facing with their insurance companies.
Insurance companies are out in full force, but as many as a third of the affected homeowners are facing an uphill insurance battle.
Many of the victims feel scammed by their insurance companies.
"Although I have the homeowners' deluxe policy, thinking we have the best policy, they're saying nothing is covered," said Jeannie Amos.
Like most of her neighbors, Barbara Long could only watch as the waters in Dundalk kept rising.
"I said, `Please, dear God, let it stop before it gets into my house,'" she said.
But water did get in. Her air conditioner, funace, ductwork and a lot of stuff in her garage were all ruined. But the most upsetting part to her came after the flood when she called her insurance company.
"They said that we are not covered, this is not covered on our policy," she said.
Mike Haines owns two flooded house on the same street. His insurance company said they'd cover one home, but not the other.
"They told me that one home was insured for $152,000 and that the second home was insured for $5,000," he said.
They aren't alone. The Maryland Insurance Administration says they've already heard from 30 or 40 homeowners frustrated with their insurance companies.
"They should not accept somebody on the telephone saying, `Oh, you don't have coverage.' You want to make sure you file a claim," said Karen Staken Hornig with the Maryland Insurance Administration.
Hornig says each policy is unique but the state has the power to review denied claims.
"If they feel that they are not being treated fairly by their insurer, they should contact our office immediately," she said.
Still, many of the victims feel they shouldn't have to financially fix what the flood ruined.
"That's not fair. That's terrible. I mean, this isn't our fault. Whoever's fault it is, it's not our fault. Why do we have to responsible for this?" said Sarah Haines.
This is a city-owned water system, so is the city to blame? The city solicitor, of course, says no. He says it's more likely the faulty pipes they were sold, but he expects the city will be facing several lawsuits from homeowners trying to recover the damages.
The Maryland Insurance Administration says the flooding should serve as a reminder to check the details of your own insurance policy now, to find out if you would be covered if something like this happened in your neighborhood.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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