>> BASEMENT KEEP FLOODING.
>> I SEAWATER.
I SEE.
>> CITY CONTACTED.
>> THEY TOLD HER IT WAS NOT
THEIR PROBLEM.
AND SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE
COMPLAINING.
>> IN AND OUT DEFENDER GET
INVOLVED AND SUDDENLY WORK CREW
SHOW UP TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THERE IS SOME FINGER
POINTING GOING ON RIGHT NOTCH
RESIDENTS SAY THEY COMPLAINED
TO THE CITY ABOUT THE CONSTANT
BASEMENT FLOODING.
CITY SAYS THEY COMPLAINED TO
THE WRONG OFFICE.
>> WHATEVER THE CASE THOUGH
HOMEOWNER ARE DEALING WITH
DAMAGES, FLOODING AND ALSO
REPAIR BILLS, SO THEY TURN TO
DEFENDER KAREN DREW LOOKING FOR
HELP.
>> THIS IS JOYCE HOME BASEMENT
ON AMERICAN DRIVE ON THE CITY
WEST SIDE.
>> MY BASEMENT HAS FLOODED 5
TIMES.
ALL I'M ASKING IS THE CITY COME
OUT AND CLEAN THESE SEWERS.
>>Reporter: TOO DIFFICULT FOR
THE 73-YEAR-OLD TO GET
DOWNSTAIRS SO HER SON IS RECORD
THANKSGIVING MESS.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTING FOR
MONTHS.
>> THIS WAS A NICE BEAUTIFUL
FINISHED BASEMENT.
EVERYTHING HAD TO BE GUTTED.
EVERYTHING HAD TO BE THROWN OU
OUT.
>> I HAVE REPLACED TWO WASHERS
AND DRYERS.
TWO FURNACES AND TWO HOT WATER
TANKS.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
>>Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE
WHEN IT RAINS HER BASEMENT
FLOODS.
SHE HAS COMPLAINED TO DETROIT
WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT BUT
NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED.
>> I NEED THE PROBLEM RESOLVED.
GIVE ME SOME HOPE.
NOT 18 TY BAG OF PROMISES.
>>Reporter: 73-YEAR-OLD IS
KEEPING RECORDS OF HER EXPENSE
THE APPLIANCE SHEREE PLACE.
SPENT OVER 4 GRAND.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF
FUNDS COMING IN HERE.
WE ARE BOTH SENIORS.
>>Reporter: FEW DOORS DOWN
CLARK IS DEALING WITH THE SAME
MESS.
>> EVERY TIME IT RAINS.
WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER.
CALLING PEOPLE TO SNAKE IT OUT.
THAT SEEMS TO WORK FOR MAYBE
TWO OR THREE WEEK.
AFTER THAT, BACK UP AGAIN.
>> ITEM HORRIBLE.
HORRIBLE HORN HORRIBLE.
>>Reporter: SHEILA JOHNSON
LIVES ON THE SAME STREET.
SMELL IN HER BASEMENT IS
DISGUSTING.
>> I EVEN GOT THAT BECAUSE I
IT'S NOT.
I HAVE SEEN LIKE I WENT THROUGH
TWO HOT WATER TANK.
DRYER.
>>Reporter: I TOOK THE
AMERICAN DRIVE STRAIGHT TO THE
DETROIT WATER AND SEWER
DEPARTMENT.
WHY WASN'T HER FLOODING
CONCERNS FIXED?
THE DEPARTMENT ADMITTED THEY
HAD HER CALL ON RECORD.
>> HAD WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE
CALL INITIALLY RIGHT WE WOULD
HAVE PUT A CAMERA IN THE SEWER
SERVICE.
SUBSEQUENTLY WE WERE CALLED AND
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ADDRESS IT
TYPE OF INVESTIGATION.
>>Reporter: THAT INVESTIGATION
FOUND A BIG PROBLEM.
>> IT COLLAPSED BUT THE REST OF
THE ISSUE IS FROM THIS.
>> THEY COMPLAINED FOR MONTHS
TO THE CITY.
THEN WE GOT ON THE CASE AND AS
YOU CAN SEE WE GOT RESULTS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO CORRECT THE
THE COLLAPSED CATCH BASIN.
CITY ALSO DISCOVERED THERE WAS
NO ISSUE ON HER PROPERTY.
>> SHE DIDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE.
RIGHT.
IN HER PARTICULAR SERVICE.
>> MEANING THE LINES ON HER
PROPERTY WERE NOT CLOGGED.
IT WAS A CITY ISSUE.
SO GUESS WHAT?
THE CITY IS REIMBURSING
MRS. FOX THE 4000 DOLLAR SHE
SPENT ON REPLACING HER
APPLIANCES.
>> I WAS LIKE YES.
I COULDN'T JUMP AND DOWN I TOLD
MY HUSBAND IF I COULD I WOULD
STAND ON THE FLOOR AND DO LIKE
>>Reporter: CITY TELLS ME THAT
CLEANING UP THE PUBLIC SEWER TO
REMOVE TREE ROOTS HAS BEEN
COMPLETED.
THEY STILL NEED TO LINE THE
FUTURE PROBLEMS.
THAT WILL TAKE TWO WEEK.
HOWEVER THE CITY IS REMINDING
PROPERTY OWNERS IT IS THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN
THEIR SEWER LINES ON THEIR
PROPERTY AND KEEP THEM CLEAN
CAUSES FLOODING AS WELL.