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37
“How Is This Even Possible?”: People In Disbelief After Seeing Detroit Neighborhood Frozen
Hundreds of Detroit families were forced to leave their homes after a massive water main break.
As residents were reeling from the aftermath of the incident, the internet was flooded with videos and images of submerged roads and cars.
Some of the videos captured vehicles frozen in place, with ice covering their bonnet and reaching the windows.
Highlights
- Hundreds of Detroit residents were left dealing with the damages caused by a massive water main break.
- About five feet of water flooded the streets in the affected area.
- “Detroit: Its literally hell frozen over,” said one social media comment.
- Scores of videos captured vehicles frozen in blocks of ice in subfreezing temperatures.
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Hundreds of Detroit residents were left dealing with the damages caused by a massive water main break.
Image credits: gabrielaaa_99
@gabrielaaa_99 We have no heat on top of that and water is still going. #detroit#fyp#viralvideo♬ original sound – Gabriela 🍓
On Monday, February 17, a 54-inch (1.4-meter) steel water main burst and flooded some streets of southwest Detroit with about five feet of water.
The pipe, nearly a century old, was built in 1930.
While the exact cause of the break was not immediately clear, city spokesperson John Roach said it could have been a combination of aging infrastructure and the freezing temperatures.
Nearly 400 homes in the area were affected by the incident, and families from about 133 households were forced to stay in hotels after their basements were flooded.
@kdj.alejandra In Southwest Detroit, a water main broke and the whole area is underwater. #detroit#icewater#WaterMainBreak#ice#flooding#disaster♬ Come Inside Of My Heart – IV Of Spades
Several residents, already struggling with subfreezing temperatures, had to be rescued from their homes via boats.
Officials said around 63 adults and 31 children were rescued by city first responders on Monday.
One rescued resident was taken to the hospital with breathing difficulties. He eventually reached stable condition.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said rescuers went from house to house on Tuesday to check on residents. He also noted that 110 of the 400 homes impacted in the area underwent inspection to assess damages.
The mayor went on to assure residents that they will be offered hotel rooms if their homes do not have power or heat.
About five feet of water flooded the streets in the affected area
Image credits: kdj.alejandra
Scores of videos shared online revealed ice-covered vehicles, frozen in gigantic blocks until the water finally drained.
When resident Michael Muzzey woke up on Monday morning, he instantly thought about his cars.
“The first thing I thought was holy bleep,” Michael told WXYZ. “The second thing I thought was what am I gonna do about the cars.”
His two cars, including a brand-new truck, underwent severe damage after water entered the interiors and froze.
Image credits: kdj.alejandra
@kdj.alejandra Cleanup has begun after the worst water main break in Detroit’s history causing Neighborhood Turn into Ice #flooded#flood#neighborhood#ice#snow#viral#trending#fyp#foryoupage#detroit#icewater#disaster#paratipage#parati#viraltiktok#fypシ#fyppppppppppppppppppppppp♬ Very Sad – Enchan
Michael believes the damage may not be reversible, and that’s the situation most of his neighbors are also in.
“There’s several cars on this street that are pretty much out of commission,” he said.
Another resident, Shellisa Rigney, said she never expected to see her house—which she has called home for nearly four decades—suffer this kind of damage.
“I probably got about maybe a foot, maybe two-foot water in my basement. I just looked down. When I seen it, I turned around and went right back,” she told the outlet.
Around 94 people were rescued from flooded homes in the early hours of Monday, February 17
Image credits: kdj.alejandra
@kdj.alejandra Detroit is under ice! We extend our thoughts and prayers to the families in Detroit, where a significant flood has occurred due to a ruptured 54-inch transmission line in southwest Detroit, affecting up to 200 homes and residential streets, with reported water levels of up to 4 feet in some areas within the break zone, and the subsequent cold temperatures have caused substantial ice formation. #detroit#icewater#ice#disaster#parati#paratipage#viraltiktok#fypシ#fyp#fyppppppppppppppppppppppp♬ TITAN! (Ultra Slowed) – GXMZ
The impacted resident said she has homeowners insurance but doesn’t know what it covers.
“You sign into and you don’t think of it, and you never think it’s going to happen to you,” she added.
Netizens were in shock to see harrowing videos of the aftermath.
“So yall flooded and then froze?? That’s gotta be one of the top 5 worst things to naturally happen im so sorry and good luck,” one commenter said.
“Detroit: Its literally hell frozen over,” said one social media comment
Image credits: samih_yahya1
@samih_yahya1 Residents were rescued after a 54-inch water main broke in southwest #Detroit, causing street flooding in the Byrd and Lexington areas تم إنقاذ السكان بعد كسر خط مياه رئيسي بقطر 54 بوصة في جنوب غرب ديترويت مما أدى إلى فيضانات في الشوارع في منطقة بيرد ولكسنجتون#Detroit♬ original sound – samih_yahya
“What a nightmare to wake up to! Praying for yall,” read a second comment, while a third said, “*Note to self* do not buy any used cars from Detroit.”
One said, “I can honestly say that I have never seen cars on the street buried in ice…snow yes, but not ice…”
“Every day, the movie ‘The day after tomorrow’ comes closer to become reality,” read another remark.
“This is so insanely dangerous,” another said.
Mayor Duggan said residents won’t have to worry about paying for damages to their property because the incident was the result of the water main system’s failure.
Scores of videos captured vehicles frozen in blocks of ice in subfreezing temperatures
Image credits: David Rodriguez Munoz/Detroit Free Press
@gabrielaaa_99 Update they are trying to fix it now. My room, my shayla, you could see up to where the water went up on the door. 😭 Anything is highly appreciated https://gofund.me/45f6a71a #fyp#parati#detroit#viralvideo♬ original sound – Gabriela 🍓
“The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and GLWA are going to repair the damage and pay for your loss as a result of this, and I’m really pleased at that fact there’s no bureaucracy involved, that your uninsured damage will be split 50/50 between GLWA and DWSD,” the mayor informed residents.
Officials said it could take several weeks for the city to return to normal.
Resident Claudia Ortiz said she plans to seek the city’s help because her homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t cover flooding.
“At least for my heater. Whatever I can get back,” she told AP News.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan assured residents that they would not have to pay for damages
What do you think ?
Mike F 9 months ago
The entire infrastructure of the city is in very poor condition. There are bridges that were built before my mother was born. The water department has, for generations, done what other utilities have done and that's siphon off the $ brought in for other projects. They are in for a huge reckoning and probably very soon. That's a very old part of the city there. My parents lived there in an apartment until my brother was born and they figured they needed a house. By US standards, Detroit is a very old city, founded in 1701, and the infrastructure is very old and has never been properly cared for. TBF, the water main is probably 8' under ground, but there have always been issues with the freeze-thaw causing breaks and they have always been repaired with a "band-aid" approach. They will have bigger problems sooner than later.
Mike F 9 months ago
The entire infrastructure of the city is in very poor condition. There are bridges that were built before my mother was born. The water department has, for generations, done what other utilities have done and that's siphon off the $ brought in for other projects. They are in for a huge reckoning and probably very soon. That's a very old part of the city there. My parents lived there in an apartment until my brother was born and they figured they needed a house. By US standards, Detroit is a very old city, founded in 1701, and the infrastructure is very old and has never been properly cared for. TBF, the water main is probably 8' under ground, but there have always been issues with the freeze-thaw causing breaks and they have always been repaired with a "band-aid" approach. They will have bigger problems sooner than later.
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