After Sewage Fills Queens Homes, City Vows To Clean Up The Mess

SOUTH OZONE PARK, QUEENS — After a clogged sewer line sent raw sewage flooding into dozens of southeast Queens homes over the weekend, city officials have vowed to pay for the cleanup.

The brown, foul-smelling wastewater started pouring into 74 homes in South Ozone Park early Saturday morning, leaving some residents with knee-high levels of sewage, according to Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Vincent Sapienza.

The flooding stopped Sunday night, according to Department of Environmental Protection officials, who said workers installed a bypass system at North Conduit Avenue and 150th Street to carry wastewater around the blocked sewer line and into the Jamaica treatment plant where it normally goes.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has hired contractors to clean up any homes flooded by wastewater and would pay for repairs to damaged boilers or hot water heaters.

New York City Emergency Management and the FDNY are also delivering portable heaters to residents whose boilers were damaged. Drinking water was unaffected and remains safe, city officials said.

At a temporary service center in the Courtyard Marriott at 145–11 North Conduit Ave., residents can get help finding temporary housing, getting their basements pumped to rid them of remaining wastewater, getting space heaters and filling out claim forms to get reimbursed for damages.

The service center will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"We are going to work with each and every New Yorker who experienced flooding to make sure they get back on their feet," de Blasio said Monday.

The flooding has displaced an untold number of nauseated residents, some of whom reported sleeping in hotel rooms and even their cars to escape the odor.

Kulwilder Singh told the New York Daily News he slept at home while his wife and child slept in their car, adding, "We couldn't leave our home. We were afraid someone might break in."

Please help! Homes within the 2 blocks radius are flooded due to the sewage pic.twitter.com/hPKTI57DeT
— Cynthia Wen (@CynthiaWen3) November 30, 2019

Cynthia McKenzie told the Associated Press she woke up about 3 a.m. Saturday to the smell of the sewage pouring into her basement; she rushed to rescue her belongings from the foul flood, even buying two pumps from Home Depot to try to get rid of the wastewater.

"It makes you want to vomit," she told the news outlet. "The odor is just unbelievable."

The cause of the blockage is under investigation by the Department of Environmental Protection and City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

I met with South Ozone Park residents that have been through a lot these past few years.

We’re working with @NYCemergencymgt, @NYC_SBS and @NYCwater to clean up the damage from the sewer main back-up and get residents back in their homes. pic.twitter.com/1eMbcMCDLg
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 2, 2019

To get reimbursed for any damage, affected homeowners should file a claim with Comptroller Scott Stringer's office within 90 days by clicking here.

Residents who were affected by the sewage backup and need assistance may also call City Council Member Adrienne Adams' office at 718-206-2068.

To view a full list of available resources, click here.