There's poo poo all over the house!

Anne · 2012-02-24 11:33:28

Speaking of remodeling...a city of Houston worker accidentally caused bathrooms in two Houston houses to become "fecal fountains," and left the residents with houses that need extensive cleanup:

Alfredo Nuno’s home at Greendowns Street and the Gulf Freeway was the hardest hit. The sewage exploded through his toilet and bathtub, showering the bathroom with fecal matter and spreading sewer water of various consistencies down the hallway, into his bedroom, and through the bathroom wall flooding his kitchen.
“They ruined my house,” he said while leading us to the rental unit in his backyard where his brother’s apartment suffered the same fate.
Behind that, a neighbor’s house on Southern Street received the same treatment. Ana Zamorano stood outside her rental home refusing to go back inside. The stench was unbearable.

Unbelievably, the city's response is that the homeowners will have to fund the repairs and cleanup themselves, then file a claim for reimbursement:

A supervisor with Houston Public Works visited his home late Thursday night and informed him he would have to arrange clean up himself and file a claim with the city attorney’s office. The city will then decide if he will be compensated for the damage to his home and for the cost of the hotel room he will have to live in until his house is habitable again.

Time to call ServPro: "Like it never even happened." The city's motto would be more along the lines of, "We cause it, you fix it."

Link to post: http://www.bloghouston.net/item/8900

Factotum · 2012-02-25 07:34:21

Just the Houston way...the aggrieved and abused citizens will pay and pay.

Mayor and monkeys to pass mandate for retrofit check valves on every sewer tap, at property owner cost.

Last edited by Factotum (2012-02-25 07:35:11)

Anne · 2012-02-25 10:35:16

Compare and contrast: The city causes this kind of damage, and won't pay upfront to clean things up. They expect homeowners to foot the bill, then wade through paperwork, and HOPE to get reimbursed (no guarantees).
Meanwhile, the city is trying to force expensive new regulations on auto repair shops, and the fees and penalties would go straight to the city, not to the aggrieved consumer.

rorschach · 2012-02-26 21:17:22

I can only imagine what was said at PW&E when Channel 11's report aired.....

blogHOUSTON.net forum

#1 2012-02-24 11:33:28

There's poo poo all over the house!

#2 2012-02-25 07:34:21

Re: There's poo poo all over the house!

#3 2012-02-25 10:35:16

Re: There's poo poo all over the house!

#4 2012-02-26 21:17:22

Re: There's poo poo all over the house!

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