D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Water officials visited Northeast D.C. to assess damage caused by sewage water that flooded the basements of dozens of homes during rainfall that swamped the area Thursday.
Bowser’s office said the mayor wanted to meet with homeowners in Edgewood and Riggs Park to survey the damage firsthand.
Edgewood residents told News4 that they received no promises for disaster relief and they were referred to homeowners insurance for damage from sewer backups. Some say they have already been told that insurance companies won’t cover this type of damage.
Residents said a local disaster declaration would help those who don’t have the resources to handle the expenses.
On Thursday, some homeowners in Edgewood and Riggs Park watched as geysers of sewage water started shooting from their basement drains.
City officials confirmed the rain quickly filled the enormous storm runoff tunnels created to stem years of widespread flooding in the adjoining Bloomingdale neighborhood.
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"There was literally a river of water coming into my basement," said Darnelle Jones, who lives in Edgewood. "I have a truck, and that water was literally to the hood of my truck.”
