Clogged Drainage Ditch Floods Monticello Home
By: Josh Berry
Updated: January 13, 2013
Flood waters are causing problems all around the state in some places filling homes with standing water and even forcing crews to shut down collapsing roads.
Crews in Drew County have worked to clear a path for a flood release as heavy rains caused quite a bit of damage.
One family woke up to the sound of water rushing into their home after a nearby drainage ditch backed up.
Now they want somebody to take responsibility.
A soggy wet floor squishes under your feet inside Roger Owens' Monticello home.
He said, "We woke up and water was flooded all through the yard and all through the house."
A line marks the side of the home where flood waters rose about 2:30 Sunday morning.
"I ain't never been through something like this," Owens
He and his family spent their day cold and wet rummaging through what they can save and what's gone.
Beyond clothes Owens says not many valuables were lost. Their primary concern has become mildew in the damp carpet.
Owens says however, they saw it coming.
"We called them twice, the city and the state, to come clean the ditch," Owens said.
Flood waters backed up behind the clogged drainage pipe with only one place to go.
"None of this would have ever happened if the city would have came out."
Crews could be seen around Monticello Sunday, working on other problem areas similar to the Owens'.
They say finally clearing this ditch was all it took for about 2.5 inches of standing water to recede about as fast as it flooded in.
We tried reaching out to the City of Monticello but had no response.
The family did tell us Red Cross has contacted them and may give them somewhere to stay till their home dries out.
Crews in Drew County have worked to clear a path for a flood release as heavy rains caused quite a bit of damage.
One family woke up to the sound of water rushing into their home after a nearby drainage ditch backed up.
Now they want somebody to take responsibility.
A soggy wet floor squishes under your feet inside Roger Owens' Monticello home.
He said, "We woke up and water was flooded all through the yard and all through the house."
A line marks the side of the home where flood waters rose about 2:30 Sunday morning.
"I ain't never been through something like this," Owens
He and his family spent their day cold and wet rummaging through what they can save and what's gone.
Beyond clothes Owens says not many valuables were lost. Their primary concern has become mildew in the damp carpet.
Owens says however, they saw it coming.
"We called them twice, the city and the state, to come clean the ditch," Owens said.
Flood waters backed up behind the clogged drainage pipe with only one place to go.
"None of this would have ever happened if the city would have came out."
Crews could be seen around Monticello Sunday, working on other problem areas similar to the Owens'.
They say finally clearing this ditch was all it took for about 2.5 inches of standing water to recede about as fast as it flooded in.
We tried reaching out to the City of Monticello but had no response.
The family did tell us Red Cross has contacted them and may give them somewhere to stay till their home dries out.
