Residents say E. Dundee's flood response falls short

Most of the floodwater left by last month's vicious storms has receded and much of the damage has been repaired.

Some East Dundee residents, however, say they still are clearing the reek of raw sewage from their homes -- with little help from the village.

Residents of the Flats neighborhood on the village's west side say as much as three feet of raw sewage backed up from the village system into about 30 basements through floor drains, bathtubs, showers and toilets during the storm.

Most of the sewage receded within a few days, but the effects linger, residents said.

While village officials said Thursday ample assistance was offered, residents argue the village was ill-prepared before, during and after the storm.

"This happened about three years ago and it was a known problem before that," said Paula Lauer, of 20 Wenholz Ave. "The village has done nothing to protect properties or warn residents when it is going to happen."

Lauer said the murky, brown liquid smelled like a "weird, wet and musty basement" that was initially "pretty gross." The sludge ruined drywall and paneling in Lauer's semi-finished basement and rendered the washer and dryer inoperable. Lauer said she doesn't yet know if the furnace and water heater will need replacing.

"I am still in the process of sanitizing the house," Lauer said. "I tried to salvage some stuff but it was like, 'I don't want to know what that was that just floated by.' "

Village officials said given the amount of rain that was dumped in the area -- about two inches in two hours during the worst downpour -- there was little the village could do to prevent the backup.

"No system is designed to handle the amount of water that came through that day," Village Administrator Frank Koehler said. "The month of August was an unbelievably wet month. Plus the two inches of rain that inundated us in two hours."

Village President Dan O'Leary said a number of factors could have caused the backup, such as residents directing sump pumps and down spouts to the sanitary sewer instead of the ground or storm water sewer.

Still, some residents say the village's response is unacceptable.

Kathy Kalish of 209 North St. said that although public works employees did help pump out basements, the village has not offered financial assistance for the cleanup, which Kalish estimated has cost her more than $3,000.

"I am lucky because I have a credit card so I can pay for the pump and generator," said Kalish, standing in her bare basement, having moved the contents to the yard. "But what about the single mother with two children who is renting the house across the street? She doesn't have access to a credit card, so what is she going to do?"

Kalish said she does not have flood insurance and her homeowners insurance will not cover the damage because residents must specifically request sewage backup coverage.

"I have so many questions and nobody in the village is doing anything," Kalish said.

O'Leary said the village would hear resident concerns at Monday's village board meeting.