Flood Cleanup Efforts Continue

The City of Detroit is employing 71 crews to provide continuous collection of flood-damaged materials. Crews include City workers, Advanced Disposal and GFL employees and emergency contractors.

Residents should place debris at the curb. Ticketing is suspended in the affected neighborhoods until the removal is complete.  City officials also are urging residents to move vehicles on the street away from large piles.

Work Schedule for Crews
Saturday, July 3 – All crews will work
Sunday, July 4 – All crews are off
Monday, July 5 – Advanced Disposal and GFL crews will work
Tuesday, July 6 – All crews will work

Cleaning Neighborhoods

Cleanup efforts started in the Jefferson Chalmers area, one of the hardest hit areas in the city. Volunteers will then move to other affected neighborhoods, which include:

Eastside Neighborhoods

• Jefferson Chalmers – already underway
• Morningside
• East English Village
• East Canfield
• Chandler Park

Westside Neighborhoods

• Warrendale
• Barton McFarlane
• Aviation
• WACO
• Franklin Park
• Cody Rouge
• Littlefield

Volunteer to Help Our Neighbors

The City of Detroit has received numerous requests for assistance and still needs volunteers to help remove damaged items from basements of senior citizens and disabled residents. Volunteers work four-hour shifts. So far, 60 City of Detroit employees and 150 community volunteers are assisting with the cleanup effort.

Volunteers will receive an email with instructions within 24 hours. The City will provide volunteers will protective gear. To sign up as a volunteer, go to detroitmi.gov.

Assistance Still Available

Residents, who are senior citizens or have a disability, can still get assistance in removing items from their basement. These individuals may call go online to use the Improve Detroit app and request assistance or call (313) 267-8000.

Residents Reminded: Be Aware of Scammers

The City of Detroit has received reports of individuals trying to take advantage of Detroiters as they deal with flood damage.  Officials are reminding residents that Detroit Water and Sewerage Department employees drive DWSD vehicles, wear department uniforms and have badges.

Individuals who have volunteered to help residents remove items from their basement will call before they arrive at homes and are wearing Serve Detroit t-shirts.

Residents, who are unsure of the person at their door, should not allow the person inside their home and should call (313) 674-1080 to verify the person’s identity.

DWSD to Investigate Standing Water in Basements

DWSD officials said residents should not still have standing water in their basements. If so, DWSD has a team of 60 employees ready to investigate. The problem may be in the drain inside the house or in the sewer pipe outside. The problem must be addressed immediately to prevent damage from future storms.

For assistance, call (313) 267-8000.

Residents Encouraged to Submit Claims 

Residents with property damaged by flooding should file a claim with the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD). Those claims also may be filed with FEMA if a presidential declaration of disaster is issued.

For most people during this historic flood event, a DWSD sewer defect is not likely the cause of the damage. But filling out the form will get residents a head start on federal assistance.

Losses should be documented with photos of the flood damage and receipts related to cleaning and repairs. Homeowners should file a claim with their insurance company immediately. Under state law, residents have 45 days to file a claim with DWSD. The deadline is August 10.

Fill out the claim form at detroitmi.gov/waterdamageclaims or call (313) 267-8000 for assistance.  Claim forms are for Detroit residents ONLY.

City, State Officials Working to Get Presidential Emergency Declaration 

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an emergency declaration and has submitted a request for Presidential declaration of emergency along with documentation to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mayor Mike Duggan is meeting with President Joe Biden when he visits Traverse City this weekend.

In addition, the FEMA Assessment team will be on site in southeast Michigan next Thursday to evaluate whether disaster conditions exist. The President will then make a determination of disaster.

If a major disaster is declared, FEMA funds are unlocked and can be used for payments to help offset residents’ losses.

City Offers At-Home COVID Vaccines to Eligible Detroiters

The City of Detroit is now scheduling at-home vaccinations for any Detroit resident age 12 and up.

The at-home vaccinations are the latest in the City’s ongoing efforts to provide residents with the COVID-19 vaccine.  Those efforts included visiting homeless shelters, senior buildings and other assisted living facilities, as well as providing access for disabled residents and those without their own transportation and doing door-to-door outreach and education.

To schedule an at-home vaccination appointment, call (313) 230-0505.

DWSD Gives All-Clear to Resume Using Drinking Water in Eastside Neighborhoods After Flushing Plumbing

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) has given the all-clear for residents and businesses in Cornerstone Village, East English Village and Morningside in District 4 to resume using the drinking water after they flush their plumbing for 5-10 minutes.

DWSD and Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) staff opened and let run several hundred fire hydrants through the night and now the water is clear. There are no indications of a water quality issue.

Read the news release.