SAINT LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - Residents who have several inches of raw sewage in their Southwest St. Louis homes met with Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Mayor Tishaura Jones, State legislators and Congresswoman Cori Bush.
People are upset, tired and worn down because this isn't the first time they've lost belongings from sewers failing and backing up into their homes. The residents want the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) to be held responsible. "We can fix all the houses, but we're not gonna fix and say that can never happen again," one resident told officials. Another pointed out issues on his property, "MSD got all, um, easements under my property. Why I can't build nothing back there. Right. But they didn't turn the pumps on until eight o'clock in the morning. I mean, they've been monitoring for the whole day. I mean, everybody been watching the weather, they knew it was coming. So my basement, my furnace, my cars and I, I collect antique cars. All of 'em are shot. Cause my cars are sitting up under the water right now."
Lt. Gov. Kehoe responded to those concerns, "I know you would like us to say we have all that fixed today. We're here to figure it out so that we can try to get it fixed for you. And listen, I was born and raised in this city. So this is near and dear to my heart."
One resident disputed accounts that they were offered help getting out of flooded homes and refused, "That's why I was carrying my, my, my three kids, my three dogs and my wife and my shoulder through neck high sewer sewage. Tell me again that, that we were offered that we were offered anything and they, and they were standing and they drove. They drove the hell off!"
KMOX News asked the Lt. Governor and Mayor Jones, what can be done? Jones said just prior to Tuesday's flooding, she was questioning why MSD has not applied for the bipartisan infrastructure money available through the federal government. Jones says it is the opportune time to apply. The Lt. Governor told KMOX a long-term plan is needed.
On Thursday afternoon, the MSD provided an explanation as to why many residents affected by flooding are not being reimbursed by the utility.
Spokesperson Sean Hadley told KMOX that over-land flooding is not MSD's responsibility.
He said as of Thursday, they've received 1,300 flood related calls, and of those, MSD is taking responsibility for 500.