• No results found

How To Handle A Backup In Your Basement

N/A
N/A
Protected

Academic year: 2021

Share "How To Handle A Backup In Your Basement"

Copied!
14
0
0

Loading.... (view fulltext now)

Full text

(1)

JOHN B. "JACK" O'REILLY, JR. MAYOR

Dear Resident:

CITY O F D E A R B O R N

DEBRA A. WALLING, CORPORATION COUNSEL

This letter is to provide information about basement flooding.

Deputy Laurie M. Ellerbrake Assistants Kimberly M. Craig William H. Irving Licia A. Yangouyian William M. DeBiasi Krystal L. Tulacz City Planning Staff

Janet Scheuher-Nalezyty Elizabeth Hendley Jessica Turner

A state law, Public Act 222 of 2001, clarifies the conditions under which

municipalities are liable for sewer backups. The Act sets standards to determine the

extent to which a municipality is liable for backups and establishes a process that affected persons must follow to seek compensation when a backup occurs.

Anyone making a claim for property damage or physical injury must prove

that the public sewer had a defect. In other words, flooding caused by extraordinary

rainfall, without evidence of a defect in the system, does not rise to the level of a compensable claim. Further, the claimant must prove that the governmental

agency knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known about the defect. Also, it must be proven that the governmental agency, having the legal

authority to do so, did not take the reasonable steps in a reasonable amount of time to repair, correct or remedy the defect. Finally, the defect must be a substantial proximate cause of the event and the property damage or physical injury.

lead.

The City does not have legal authority or obligation to repair a private sewer If you experienced an overflow or backup of a sewage disposal system or storm water system, and intend to make a claim, you must file a written claim with the City's Law Department within 45 days after the overflow or backup is discovered. There is a claim form on the page following this letter. If you would like to file a claim, please return the completed claim form along with any estimates, invoices, photographs, video or any other documentation you may have relating to the claim.

Claims must be returned to the City of Dearborn Law Department, 13615 Michigan Ave., Suite 8, Dearborn, Ml 48126.

Under the state law, failure to provide the required written claim within the allotted time will prevent recovery of damages.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact this office. Thank you.

Very truly yours,

WILLIAM H:

Assistant Corporation Counsel

WHI/ncm Enclosures

S:\BIRVING\CLAIMS May 2013\Cover ltrforwebsite.doc

(2)

FILE NO.__________________

DEPARTMENT OF LAW CLAIM FORM

Claim Type: (A). Vehicle damage

(B). Property damage (not vehicle)

(C). Personal injury (2-page Medicare/Medicaid form must be submitted with your claim form) (D). Other

_________________________________________________________________________ GENERAL INFORMATION (THIS SECTION MUST BE COMPLETED).

Claimant Name: _______________________________ Date of Birth: ________________ Complete Address: _________________________________________________________ Phone No(s): (____) _________________/c_(____) _________________

Last Four (4) Social Security Nos: XXX-XX-_________

Incident date: _________________ Incident location: _____________________________ Briefly explain what happened: ________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Name/address/phone of any witnesses, if any: ___________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

(A).ONLY FILL OUT SECTION (A) IF YOU HAVE SUSTAINED VEHICLE DAMAGE.

Was a police report filed? yes no If yes, Incident Report Number: ________________ If no, please state why not ___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Ambulance called? yes no

Were you taken to the hospital? yes no If yes, list the hospital/address/phone:

_________________________________________________________________________ Was a Doctor consulted? yes no If yes, list doctor’s name/address/phone:

_________________________________________________________________________ Do you have medical insurance/Medicare/Medicaid? yes no If yes, list type and policy (Note: you must attach a completed copy of the 2-page Medicare/Medicaid form if

applicable)._______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

(3)

FILE NO.__________________

Has the vehicle been registered with the Michigan Secretary of State? yes no If yes, please attach proof of registration to this claim form.

Do you have auto insurance? yes no If yes, please attach proof of insurance to this claim form.

Did you file a claim with your insurance company for this event? yes no If yes, was your claim approved or denied?_______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Are you the owner of the vehicle involved in the auto accident? yes no If no, list the vehicle owner’s name/address/phone:__________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Describe the injuries/damages sustained and amount of damages being claimed.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ (B).ONLY FILL OUT SECTION (B) IF YOU HAVE SUSTAINED PROPERTY DAMAGE (NOT VEHICLE). Are you the property owner? yes no If no, list the name/address/phone of the property owner:___________________________________________________________________ Are you a tenant leasing or renting the property? yes no

Do you have homeowner’s/renter’s insurance? yes no If yes, list name and policy number:__________________________________________________________________ Did you file a claim with your insurance company for this event? yes no If yes, was your claim approved or denied?_______________________________________________ Describe the damages sustained and amount of damages being claimed (Note: prior to the item(s) being inspected by the City, please take pictures of all damaged items and only discard items that may cause a health risk). To support the damage claim amount, please attach invoices, estimates, and receipts. Claims will not be paid without supporting

documentation. ___________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ -2-

(4)

FILE NO.__________________

(C)ONLY FILL OUT SECTION (C) IF YOU HAVE SUSTAINED PERSONAL INJURY.

Was a police report filed? yes no If yes, Incident Report Number: ________________ If no, please state why not ___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Ambulance called? yes no

Were you taken to the hospital? yes no If yes, list the hospital/address/phone:

_________________________________________________________________________ Was a Doctor consulted? yes no If yes, list doctor’s name/address/phone:

_________________________________________________________________________ Do you have medical insurance/Medicare/Medicaid? yes no If yes, list type and policy (Note: you must attach a completed copy of the 2-page Medicare/Medicaid form if

applicable)._______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Did you file a claim with your insurance company for this event? yes no If yes, was your claim approved or denied?_______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Describe the injuries sustained and amount of damages being claimed.________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ (D)ONLY FILL OUT SECTION (D) IF NO OTHER SECTION IS APPLICABLE.

Was a police report filed? yes no If yes, Incident Report Number: ________________ If no, please state why not ___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Please describe the injuries/damages sustained and amount of damages being claimed. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

(5)

FILE NO.__________________

Please briefly list any other information not provided for in the above sections that you think will aid the City in processing your claim. ________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

I (CLAIMANT) DECLARE UNDER THE PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FACTS STATED IN THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT ARE TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY AFFIXING MY SIGNATURE TO THIS FORM THAT I HAVE NOT CAUSED A CLAIM TO BE FILED FOR ANY IMPROPER PURPOSE.

_____________________________ Dated: _____________________ Signature of Claimant

RETURN FORM AND ATTACHMENTS TO: City of Dearborn, Department of Law

13615 Michigan Avenue, Suite 8, Dearborn, Michigan 48126-3581 (313) 943-2035 • FAX (313) 943-2469

(6)
(7)
(8)

S

EWER

BACKUP

INFORMATION

This information is provided to the Citizens of Dearborn following the unfortunate circumstance of a sewer backup.

A sewer backup can be very frustrating and stressful. This is a situation that must be dealt with in a very careful manner. If not handled properly, health

and safety problems can occur, as well as significant property loss.

This valuable information has been

prepared for you by the

City of Dearborn

Customer Service Steering Committee

&

The Department of Public Works

Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr.

(9)

Sewer backups through the basement drain.

Back-ups may result from a variety of conditions, most commonly, heavy rain events. When ex-cess water overloads the sewer because of blockages caused by grease, debris or tree roots, or collapses, a

sewer back-up may occur. Sometimes the private home’s sewer system is in such poor condition that a

back-up will occur when a toilet is flushed, or a load of laundry is washed.

Will the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Pro-ject affect Sewer Back-ups?

No.

The CSO facilities that will be built from 2005 to 2010 are designed to accept the same amount of sewage flow that the city’s sewer system currently delivers. This means that the CSO project will not cause any restrictions in the system and will not cause additional sewer back-ups.

First Steps

If you have a backup, call the City of Dearborn

Department of Public Works-Sewerage Division at 313-943-2042, Monday through Friday 7:00 AM -

3:30 PM, or 313-943-2100 during all other hours. We will dispatch a maintenance crew to your ad-dress to determine if the stoppage is in the City main or your private line (sewer lateral).

If the sewer main is found to be clear, it is then the responsibility of the property owner to call a li-censed plumber or drain service to correct the prob-lem. The City cannot recommend any plumber. Check your Yellow Pages or Business White Pages. You may want to get more than one esti-mate from reputable plumbers and check their ref-erences.

Introduction

It is never pleasant to deal with a sewer back-up. While sewer back-ups may occur for a num-ber of reasons, they are usually caused by inter-nal plumbing problems in the home and, in rare cases, the public sewer line.

The City of Dearborn continually maintains and repairs the public sewer system to keep it in good working condition, thus reducing the poten-tial for backups.

The information contained in this brochure can help protect you and your family from the hazards of raw sewage in your basement and show you practical methods for proper sanitation of your home and its contents if a back-up occurs. A quick response will go a long way toward limit-ing the possibility of long term health effects and property damage.

This brochure also includes helpful phone numbers where you can receive additional infor-mation and advice. Keep it in a handy place for quick reference if you have a sewer problem. Sincerely,

Dearborn Customer Service Committee

COPING WITH A SEWER

BACKUP

How Do Sewer Backups Occur?

Sewer backup may vary from clean water to raw sewage that causes contamination and may dis-color exposed items. The following describes causes for water in basements:

Storm water seeping in walls, floors or

wid-ows. This is normally due to inadequate drainage or grading around a home, malfunc-tioning sump pumps, gutters or footer drains.

(10)

If a blockage is found in city sewer, the Water and Sewerage Division will perform any cleaning or re-pair to that line. This work will be

done as soon as possible and you will be kept informed about what is being done. If you have repeated problems and you have determined that your sewer needs a major repair, contact the

DPW Engineering Division at 313-943-2145 to learn about the

“Must Fix” program (there is a fee for this program).

Cleaning Up After Floods/Sewer Backups

How do I clean up after floods/sewer backups?

Proper responses to sewer backups can greatly minimize losses from negative health effects and property damage. Every backup is unique and will require different responses but there are some uni-versal principles that can be applied to all situations. Sewer backup can lead to disease, destruction of your valuables, damage to your house, and the risk of electrocution. Prompt cleanup of affected property can help minimize the inconvenience and damage.

Health and Safety Issues

Please be aware and keep in mind the risk of poten-tial health and safety problems when addressing the cleanup of your home. Sewage and floodwaters

con-tain bacteria, fecal material, viruses and other hazardous microorganisms which can cause disease. These “germs” can be transmitted by touching contaminated items or by tracking them into uncontaminated areas on shoes. Children and pets are especially vulner-able.

Odors from sewage backups are unpleasant but not harmful. The speedy removal and cleanup of sewer water is very important and necessary.

To protect yourself and your family during cleanup, please follow these guidelines:

Avoid skin contact with sewer water, especially cuts and sores. Keep them clean and covered.

If you should suffer a cut while working in flood or sewer water, contact your physician or the Health Department about receiving a tetanus shot.

Do not allow children to play in areas contami-nated by sewage backup.

Do not eat or drink anything exposed to sewer water.

Keep contaminated objects, water, and hands away from mucous membranes (mouth, eyes, and nose).

Wash hands frequently, especially after bathroom use, before eating, and immediately following contact with sewer water or contaminated ob-jects/surfaces.

Disinfect all areas and equipment that came into floodwater contact with a solution of 8 table-spoons of liquid chlorine bleach to a gallon of water. This is a very effective method of re-moving odors and bacteria. Bleach solutions are the most effective disinfectants, but may cause discoloration of many materials.

NEVER MIX BLEACH WITH AMMONIA THIS PRODUCES CHLORINE GAS, A VERY TOXIC AND DANGEROUS

(11)

Do’s and Don’ts of Clean-up

Because of the unsanitary nature of a sewer backup in the home, it is essential that all affected areas where the backup occurred be cleaned and disinfected as soon as possible. Generally, small household items that are affected or exposed to the sewage should be discarded. It is important to make a list of discarded items, and if possible, pro-vide photographs for insurance purposes.

All affected appliances should be

in-spected prior to putting them back into

operation.

Many private companies can handle the cleanup for you.

We recommend that you immediately

arrange for a thorough, professional,

sanitized cleanup of your affected

property.

Check the yellow pages under the listing “Fire and Water Damage Restoration.” Some companies will also inspect and repair major appliances (furnaces, water heaters, washers and dryers). If a private company is contracted to do cleaning and/or resto-ration, be sure to keep all receipts for insurance purposes.

If you chose to cleanup your property your-self, the following information is provided as a recommendation to assist with your

cleanup efforts:

• Potential health and safety hazards must be identified and eliminated prior to implement-ing cleanimplement-ing or restoration procedures. Before entering the affected area the potential for electrical shock hazards and gas leaks must be assessed.

• Wear protective clothing such as rubber boots, gloves and eye protection during cleanup and removal. To remove gloves, turn them inside out, without touching the con-taminated exterior. Dispose of them properly.

• Treat all water soaked surfaces, furnishings and items as contaminated until properly cleaned & sanitized.

• Do not use any electrical equipment while standing in water.

• Wet-vacuum to remove spillage.

• Operate wet vacuums only when

plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter or ground fault equipped outlet.

• Remove and discard carpet and steam clean or discard drapes.

• Remove and discard upholstered furniture and porous wood furniture stained by sew-age.

• Discard or properly wash and disinfect toys, clothing and other contaminated objects.

• Sanitize and clean hardwood furniture, then thoroughly wipe, dry and apply an oil-based wood polish.

(12)

Do’s and Don’ts of Clean-up (continued)

• Ventilate the affected area with floor fans and a dehumidifier, if available, to

properly dry the area. If it has not been directly con-tacted by water, activate the building’s heating, ven-tilation and doors when conditions are favorable.

• Clean appliances and/or ductwork. If electric motors, wiring or insulation have been satu-rated, have a qualified service technician remove the motor, dry it, and inspect for damage before plugging it back in and turning it on.

• Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors; mildew and expanded water damage may

• result.

• It your basement walls are finished with drywall, all the areas contacted by water must be re-moved and disposed of within 24 hours. Once these items get wet, they retain moisture long enough to grow mold. Removing the wall board also allows air to circulate around the wood studs so that they dry completely and will not need to be replaced.

• Sanitize and repair, or remove and discard, paneling, wallboard or wall coverings.

• Unplug all electrical appliances, small electri-cal devices on wet floor covering or other wet areas and turn off the circuit breakers supply-ing electricity to affected areas.

• Turn off the gas (or other fuel source) to your furnace or heater and hot water heater.

• Avoid flushing toilets or using other water connected to appliances or fixtures. The dis-charge from these items may back up into the basement.

• After the waters have receded, flush out and disinfect plumbing fixtures before resuming normal use.

• Do not track sewage from the basement into living areas of the house.

• Keep children and animals out of the affected area.

• Take before-and-after photos.

• If a dishwasher, washing machine, shower, bathtub, toilet or other water fixture is operat-ing shut it off immediately.

• Move any uncontaminated property away from the affected areas.

• Do not attempt to stop the flow of sewer backup through the floor drain or any other sewer drain. Any added obstruction could cause serious damage to your household drainage system and possibly a catastrophic rupture of the household sewer drainage sys-tem.

(13)

Treatment of Rugs and Carpeting

For smaller, loose rugs, and wall-to-wall carpet installed on tacks, in-plant cleaning is the best option. The germicidal and cleaning treatment has to be thorough.

Both the carpet and the floor surface have to be completely cleaned and decontaminated. Germi-cides used for this have to be effective even against the bacteria of the E. Coli family, which is present in contaminated sewage.

For wall-to-wall carpets that are glued down, cleaning on-site may not be completely effective and in-plant cleaning may not be viable economi-cally or practieconomi-cally.

Contaminated padding is best discarded and should not be reused.

Related Links

www.fema.gov/hazards/floods/

pbuffd.shtm

www.michigan.gov/deq

www.fema.gov

www.epa.gov/safewater/ecoli.html

www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001501-1600/d001564/d001564.html

What a Homeowner Needs

To Know

Public Act 222:

Sewer Back-up Legisla

tion

The State of Michigan passed a new law, Act 222 of Public Acts of 2001, which clarifies when munici-palities are liable for sewer backups. The Act sets standards to determine the extent to which a mu-nicipality is liable for backups and establishes a process that affected persons must follow to seek compensation when a backup occurs.

Anyone making a claim for property damage or physical injury must prove that the public sewer had a defect. In addition, it must be proven that the gov-ernmental agency knew, or in the exercise of rea-sonable diligence, should have known about the defect, and that the governmental agency having the legal authority to do so, failed to take reason-able steps in a reasonreason-able amount of time to repair, correct, or remedy the defect.

If you experience an overflow or backup of a sew-age disposal system or storm water system, and intend to make a claim, you must file a written claim with the City of Dearborn within 45 days after the overflow or backup is discovered. Claim forms are available at the Office of Corporation Counsel upon request. Claims must be mailed to Corporation Counsel, City of Dearborn, 13615 Michigan Ave-nue, Dearborn, Michigan 48126.

(14)

References

Related documents

hereafter built, shall be constructed and installed, or repaired or rebuilt, according to plans and specifications prepared by the Plumbing Inspector and approved by the Board

After your friend has accepted your invitation and installed and configured a CrashPlan account using the same email address specified in the invitation, your friend's computer

Providing Tax, Auditing, Accounting & Controllership, Technology, Consulting, and Wealth Management Services Since 1964.. March 31, 2015

• §105(d)(9): Examine the financial reports of health insurers and evaluate the impact of the Healthy Michigan Plan on the cost of uncompensated care as it relates to insurance

If there is a gap between available water supply and projected water demand, the District’s water conservation department will recommend implementation of the District’s water

However, in order not to exclude the bulk of original documents in Iranian languages, which are of eminent importance for our knowledge of the languages and

The most capable of agentless products not only use mechanisms such as these to collect and aggregate data from links in the chain of service delivery, but also correlate the