News

Actions

Home ripped apart by flooding storm water

Home ripped apart by flooding storm water
Home ripped apart by flooding storm water
Posted at 9:35 PM, Aug 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-26 23:37:01-04

Kenneth Cummings has rented a home along Bellefontaine in Kansas City to Berdez Kethcum for the past nine years. Three nights ago the home was ripped apart by flooding water.

"We hear a crash and I come down and the water is just like a wave just floating all through the basement," said Kethcum.

The water rushed into the home after a storm drain was clogged. Cummings contacted the city to unclog the drain and to find compensation for the damage. The city did unclog the drain but denied the claim.

A spokesperson for Kansas City sent the following email to 41 Action News:

“Water crews responded immediately to clean out two catch basins. As for the claim, our investigators also responded quickly. The claim was denied because it didn’t appear that the water had caused the damage.”

"I can't imagine why they would deny it... It blows my mind. The only thing that I can think of is, they don’t want to pay,” said Cummings.

Cummings said his homeowners insurance won't pay for the damage either.

Now there's a gaping hole in the basement and mud lining the floors. 

Belongings sitting in the basement are destroyed, including keepsakes from Kethcum's wife who died just three weeks ago.

Cummings is determined to do right by Kethcum and fix his house.

"It's not necessarily a dollar amount; it's more about what can we do to get him up and running as quickly as possible," said Cummings.

Cummings has yet to do an estimate on how much the damage will cost but expects to pay thousands.

------

 

Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com

Follow her on Twitter:

Follow @ali_hoxie

Connect on Facebook: