Mountlake Terrace residents furious over frequent flood
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MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. -- Bryce Keener has a dead Mustang in his driveway - a horse, but no horsepower.
"I've seen flooding - flash floods and stuff - but nothing to where three cars are totaled," he said. "It was ridiculous. (The water) was coming up about six inches every 45 minutes to half hour."
Keener lives in one of three homes on 53rd Place West in Mountlake Terrace that experienced significant damage during Monday's record rain. Three cars belonging to his family have water damage; his sister's sports car, which was submerged in about three feet of water, won't start. His house was spared major flooding, he said, but may have some water damage in the insulation and on the floorboards.
Next door, 10-year Mountlake Terrace resident Sandy Carlos navigated puddles in protective footwear while walking to her bedroom in the basement. After 11 floods in her home in a decade, she and her husband are frustrated and wondering - after multiple complaints to the city - why managers haven't done more to fix an ongoing drainage issue she feels is the city's fault.
"I need to know how you're going to fix it, how you're going to make it right," Carlos said, "and I need you to hold yourself accountable."
City leaders, insurance personnel, and public works officials are all looking into the problem, said assistant city manager Scott Hugill. The city sent an insurance adjuster to the neighborhood Tuesday to assess the damage and try to figure out who - or what - is to blame.
"We're still exploring that; if the city is responsible we'll take care of it for those folks," Hugill said. "That's not to say the city's not liable - we just need to identify what the city is responsible for and identify what the next steps are."
Professional cleaning crews spent part of the day clearing Carlos' basement. They packed boxes, cleared furniture, and brought in dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air. Hugill told Carlos - and others - to file a claim with the city for the bill.
Carlos said she and her husband have paid for repairs and cleaning from most of the other flooding - in addition to investing nearly $7,000 in a sump pump system - but hoped the city would pick up the tab for repairs this time, in addition to looking at pipe and drainage issues in the area.
"We've spent thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars. We've done cleanup ourselves over and over and over again," she said. "We've done everything we possibly can to keep the water at bay and it still came in."
Hugill said the city recently installed a large stormwater pipe in the area and hoped to connect to the neighborhood soon.
"We are constantly assessing the water system and the upgrades or changes that need to be made," he added, "and this will be part of that."
"I've seen flooding - flash floods and stuff - but nothing to where three cars are totaled," he said. "It was ridiculous. (The water) was coming up about six inches every 45 minutes to half hour."
Keener lives in one of three homes on 53rd Place West in Mountlake Terrace that experienced significant damage during Monday's record rain. Three cars belonging to his family have water damage; his sister's sports car, which was submerged in about three feet of water, won't start. His house was spared major flooding, he said, but may have some water damage in the insulation and on the floorboards.
Next door, 10-year Mountlake Terrace resident Sandy Carlos navigated puddles in protective footwear while walking to her bedroom in the basement. After 11 floods in her home in a decade, she and her husband are frustrated and wondering - after multiple complaints to the city - why managers haven't done more to fix an ongoing drainage issue she feels is the city's fault.
"I need to know how you're going to fix it, how you're going to make it right," Carlos said, "and I need you to hold yourself accountable."
City leaders, insurance personnel, and public works officials are all looking into the problem, said assistant city manager Scott Hugill. The city sent an insurance adjuster to the neighborhood Tuesday to assess the damage and try to figure out who - or what - is to blame.
"We're still exploring that; if the city is responsible we'll take care of it for those folks," Hugill said. "That's not to say the city's not liable - we just need to identify what the city is responsible for and identify what the next steps are."
Professional cleaning crews spent part of the day clearing Carlos' basement. They packed boxes, cleared furniture, and brought in dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air. Hugill told Carlos - and others - to file a claim with the city for the bill.
Carlos said she and her husband have paid for repairs and cleaning from most of the other flooding - in addition to investing nearly $7,000 in a sump pump system - but hoped the city would pick up the tab for repairs this time, in addition to looking at pipe and drainage issues in the area.
"We've spent thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars. We've done cleanup ourselves over and over and over again," she said. "We've done everything we possibly can to keep the water at bay and it still came in."
Hugill said the city recently installed a large stormwater pipe in the area and hoped to connect to the neighborhood soon.
"We are constantly assessing the water system and the upgrades or changes that need to be made," he added, "and this will be part of that."
Someone just had a good question: Why didn't the car owner move the car before the flood happened? Here is the short answer: I live beside the car owner. On 11/19 when the flood happened, most of the people in the street were already at work. My wife got a call at work from a neighbor who was frantically knocking on doors to warn everyone. I myself drove home from my office in Seattle to do damage control on my home. By the time we got home, it was too late. So you see, it wasn't as easy as looking out our living room windows, going outside and moving cars. I speak for all my neighbors: If anyone of us could have saved each other's property, we would have done it. For those snarky couch critics who say, "Why didn't they move the car out of harm's way the night before, since forecasts called for storms?" 1. Hindsight is 20/20; 2. Try telling that to the people who parked their cars at Premera the morning of the 19th, or those who parked their cars at commuter parking lots. There was no sign anything of this magnitude would come so suddenly; 3. If any destruction or crisis visits you, I'll gladly abandon my post and stand beside you to help. No questions asked, no criticism given. The long answer: We were led to believe by the city that flooding would not happen again, since new, larger drain pipes were laid nearby, which connects to our street drain. (But as KOMO News discovered the other day, our street hasn't even been connected to the new pipe.) Over the years, we would get mini-floodings on the street on a regular basis, whereupon we'd call 911 or Public Works to report it. And by the time someone actually showed up, the flooding subsided. Believe me, it's been a constant struggle for us for over 10 years to get anyone in Public Works to take us seriously. After our basement was flooded this last time (the 11th time in 10 years), we had enough. I wrote to the mayor, public works director, and the media. Just to get someone to notice us living here and putting up with this nonsense. Yet the city puts its energy toward pushing for a new city center and focusing on the Town Square and having multiple layers of management. I say, "Take care of the existing infrastructure first -- and most importantly, the people of this city -- before expending funds on Cinderella projects. Don't forget us Ugly Stepsister neighborhoods." Just saying. David Carlos
Years ago we had a bad flooding problem in my Newport Hills neighborhood and finally the county figured out that a tree had its roots blocking a major storm drain uphill from my house. I think they need to go crawl around in the drain pipes here.
Maybe now he will go buy a NICE mustang, and get rid of the chick ride.
 @jfox85 haha just goes to show the immature, assenine, assuming the car belonged to a guy! it belonged to a young lady so get off the assumption wagon and get all your facts straight before making the ass of yourself
There comes a point in which folks must look to themselves for solutions. When has government taken responsibility? due diligence??
 @contraryjim Jim, I did due diligence. I paid thousands in upgrading our french drain system, I coughed up thousands after 11 floods without going to the government for help. But there comes a time when you realize: "The root cause is the city not diverting enough water out of this block. Why am I continuing to clean up after them? I'm not asking for government help. I'm asking that they acknowledge responsibility."Â
Wow what a bizarre place to flood. I assumed they were along the 216th yearly flood zone by Premera but this is clearly "high ground" in a cul-de-sac east of I-5 well above that area. I would be pissed as well considering the drain located right under that pond in the photo. Why on earth hasn't the city come out and hoovered that drain? Certainly plenty of people jumping to conclusions on this thread. Take a look at the topography and satellite view of the location.. not a flood zone by any stretch. Â Bunch of sad sacks with karma right around the corner.
Old Sunday School song: The foolish man builds his house upon the sand, the rains come down and the floods go up, and the house on the sand goes "splat".
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11 floods in 10 years, you are luck the County or City hasn't come in and "condemned" your house and land forcing you to move to higher ground. Maybe you would prefer a red tag on your house? That is the City and County doing something to prevent the damage.
 @RTNavy Yeah, I'd love to meet the a$$wipe who approved this house being built in 1961. Unbelievable. I bought it in 2002, during the summer, not knowing the history. Hindsight is 20/20.
 @TheShadowKnows  @RTNavy shadow you are right, hindsight is 20/20 but than again as ive said on this thread, your not in a flood zone so how would you know of the issues caused by the city?
"I've seen flooding - flash floods and stuff - but nothing to where three cars are totaled," he said. "It was ridiculous. (The water) was coming up about six inches every 45 minutes to half hour."
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Next time don't wait until your car is underwater to move it to high ground. Â Use some common sense and stop crying over your own stupidity.
 @FBrumfield Hey, couch critic: Tell that to the many people who parked at Premera or commuter parking lots, then got their cars flooded. No one knew the floods would hit hard and fast. I sure hope you have no crisis in your life, but if you ever need compassion, understanding, or help, I'll abandon my post and be at your side. No questions asked, no criticism leveled.
 @TheShadowKnows Please read my post before you jump on me about it.  I wasn't talking about people who parked in lots.  I am talking about home owners who leave their car in a spot they know floods and then blames the city, county or state.  The person even said they saw the water rising.  Why didn't they move their car?
 @FBrumfield Seriously.
 @FBrumfield just to clarify your stupidity of assumption of 'next time dont wait untill your car is underwater to move it to higher ground', this is how the street was when people woke in the morning to get ready for work. Nothing like waking up and feeling like you were transported to noah's ark overnight, but apparently people are to assume that due to the citys lack of clearing and inspecting their drain system that allows tree's to grow through it, that they will wake up with water in their yard and home. As for people doing their research on their homes before buying, if it is not in a flood zone than nothing will be flagged as such. The funny thing is that everyone on here is ASSUMING that these residents would know what would happen when buying their homes. Unfortunately in a situation like this when all records for a home are checked they dont include negligence. And keep in mind, this neighborhood IS on a hill...I'm curious for anyone on here whos complaining about people's stupidity, if the drains had never been cleared and the drains connected to it had tree's growing out of it, would you all have reacted differently if this had been your city, your street, your neighbors, your HOME????
 @SandiC It was raining before they went to bed.  And it is not like it is new that they flood.  So leaving their car parked where they know it floods is an act of stupidity.  Sorry but they need to take responsibility and stop blaming the city, county or state for something that was preventable if they had used a little common sense.
@SandiCÂ Â Â Â Â "After 11 floods in her home in a decade"Â that little tidbit speaks volumes....
Eleven floods in ten years, and you know you live in a flood-prone area but you don't move your cars when heavy rain is predicted or transfer your belongings to a different floor? No sympathy.
 @chandler Hey, couch critic: Tell that to the many people who parked at Premera or commuter parking lots, then got their cars flooded. No one knew the floods would hit hard and fast. I sure hope you have no crisis in your life, but if you ever need compassion, understanding, or help, I'll abandon my post and be at your side. No questions asked, no criticism leveled.
 @chandler you need to do your research as well... this area is not considered flood prone. there are no creeks, rivers, or lakes nearby. This 'flood prone' area only occurs when the storm drains are not cleared by the city....Maybe such negligence should be part of flood insurance offered by insurance companies so that way the city gov't. can not claim responsibility and just keep the negligence going.Â
@SandiC when I am walking in my neighborhood and see a catch basin covered by leaves and whatnot, I actually take the time to clear it off as I know the city can not possibly be expected to clean each and every catch basin grate in the city before a storm rolls through.
 @Surveyor1  @SandiC that may be true, however clearing off the drains in this situation would not have made a difference when their drain line further down had a tree growing out of it. Had regular maintenance been done further in than just clearing the surface, they would have noticed the problem and could have taken care of it much sooner. Think about it... the drain pipes are i believe 6" in diameter, possibly more. How little time do you think it takes to grow a tree large enough to block it? It takes time, can you say possibly years??? and yet the city couldnt be bothered to maintain their lines deeper and better than just the occasional surface clear...I can tell you though that the time it would take to grow a tree large enough to block the lines is probably a good portion of the duration in which they have had problems with flooding. And as I've said, unless theres a body of water nearby, no property reports would show it being in a flood zone. People say move, yet you only really start to realize the flooding is a problem after the a few years of continued flooding and buy them you've made a home. It wouldnt have mattered if the people moved or not, without proper maintenance on the drains it would continue to happen untill the city took care of it. One good citizen can clear the drains as you have said you do, however a citizen goes further than that to clear blockages than they also look at charges for messing with city gov't. property. Possibly even felony charges. So again i ask, at what point is the city no longer responsible to do the job they are contracted and obligated to do?
MT residents furious that they didn't move somewhere else...just like Cletus furious he didn't move his mobile home out of tornado alley....."its da governaments fault y'all"
 @yeahguy in this situation it is. When its the city's responsibility to keep their drains clear and they neglect that, than yes it is the city's responsibility...I highly doubt if the tables were turned you or anyone else would not have screamed the same... And whats more, the city is claiming responsibiity so what does that tell you?
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@SandiC @yeahguy -- It tells me, SandiC, the city and county are trying to mitigate their damages. I'd sue the hell out of the city and county if it were my house. The very fact that there was a tree growing in the drain, blocking water is unacceptable and negligent to say the least. Either the area needs to be flagged as a flood plain or the city/county needs to fix the drainage issues. Unfortunately, MTC residents cannot do this on their own. I hope it is resolved for all involved.Â
Try buying a house with a little elevation next time. Everything runs downhill Carlos.
 @Klondiko Mountlake Terrace is at roughly 500 feet above sea level.  It's as high as anything else from Arlington to Seattle.
 @Vertically Inclined  @Klondiko As if sea level has anything to do with it. Wow.
...Carlos said she and her husband have paid for repairs and cleaning from most of the other flooding - in addition to investing nearly $7,000 in a sump pump system - but hoped the city would pick up the tab for repairs this time, in addition to looking at pipe and drainage issues in the area. "We've spent thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars. We've done cleanup ourselves over and over and over again," she said. "We've done everything we possibly can to keep the water at bay and it still came in."...
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Awww, the wing nuts "personal accountability" crowd won't have a leg to stand on for this one.
 @Howard Beale I'd focus less on keeping the water at bay and more on increasing the elevation of my house five feet or so.
 @Howard Beale Accountability includes knowing when to fold 'em. Eleven floods in ten years speaks for itself.
 @wysoumible  @Howard Beale if it were from a creek, river, lake or some other body of water that would put them in a flood zone than understandable, however this is from the negligence of the city over years of not wanting to take care of it. After all, how often do tree's grow through water pipes without being noticed and city pipes to boot. This was an occurence long waiting to happen. If the city had taken better care of clearing their drains than this would have been noticed sooner, however its been a constant battle with them to do anything because they have'nt had the budget to do it. Hmmm.... wonder if they have the budget now to take care of all the problems from their negligence.Â
 @SandiC  @wysoumible  @Howard Beale Quit being stupid and move. If you play in the street and get hit by a car do you play in it again?
 @wysoumible So you're volunteering to buy their house? Wouldn't it be a bit ehem, tough, to sell a house that has flooded 10 times in 11 years because of changes made by the city, so not an issue when the house was first bought?
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You did put a nice strawman out there!
@wysoumible @Howard Beale That depends, did Carlos MOVE IN 10 years ago..or did the flooding START ten years ago, perhaps due to development nearby or at least "up-hill" such that the drainage pattern was significantly changed? IE, due to development? IF that is the case, the city IS liable to a certain degree if their planning can be found to be faulty where the hydraulic engineering is concerned. OR Carlos and her husband maybe didnt check out the history of the property? Lots of possibilities, they certainly did take responsibility for some of the cleanup...though I'd be seeing about jacking the house above the highest recorded flood....by a few feet.