DETROIT, July 27, 2021 ~ Saturday morning, residents in Metro Detroit experienced another round of heavy flooding as storms put even more water down, closing roads, flooding basements, and leaving residents scrambling for a solution just days after the last flooding.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Wayne County, and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance, though the agency has stated they are monitoring the situation before helping.
“This system is arguably the largest municipal wastewater system in America, and certainly it is probably the most complex,” said Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Gary Brown to 760 WJR’s Paul W. Smith.
July 27, 2021 ~ Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Gary Brown talks to Paul W. about the ongoing flooding this summer and he has important advice on how to waterproof your home.
Many are wondering what changes in infrastructure can be made to prevent these floods from happening, and what changes can be made in the home to protect from floodwaters.
Gary Brown stated that if he lived in areas prone to flooding, he would “absolutely put a check valve” on his lateral sewer lines. These valves only allow water to flow one way, thus lowering the risk of water entering the home. He also strongly encouraged getting a sump pump for those who do not have one in their home.
“I don’t think there is a way that anyone can guarantee that you will never, ever get flooded,” said Brown. “You can’t predict what type of, how much rain you are going to get, but there’s certainly many, many things that can be done that will reduce the opportunity for you to be flooded.”
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