ELYRIA, Ohio — The city of Elyria continues to look for answers after the recent flooding in their community. The rain caused so much damage that now the city is looking for new ways to help flood victims.
It's been a frustrating time for residents like Joyce Roberts. She needed fans in her basement to help things dry out. Unfortunately, the 75-year-old's bank account is also drying up.
"If I was still working, I know I could figure out how to pay for it," Roberts tells us.
The challenge for Roberts is paying for all the damage that adds up to about $30,000, while paying medical bills for her cancer treatment.
The city of Elyria knows it has a sewer problem. The fast moving rain that hit on August 21 showed city leaders just how ugly things can get.
According to Terry Korzan, the superintendent of Elyria's Wastewater Department, under normal circumstances, this would not have happened.
"When it all comes down in 30 to 60 minutes, especially in this instance with 4-5 inches, there was no way it could handle something of that intensity," Korzan explains.
So Elyria leaders held a public forum on Facebook. Residents sounded off and gave suggestions on what to avoid the next time it floods and what the community needs.
The city says it might be able to offer up some sort of funding.
We told Korzan about Roberts' situation. He replied that the city "is looking to help anybody in her case. We are going to see if the community development can provide her funding."
Roberts says her insurance has not been helpful and will only pay a quarter of the damage. All she wants is to be whole again, she just doesn't have the means to do it.
"Anything is worth looking into," she says. "Will I count on the city coming through? No. If they do, I will thank God for that."
The city of Elyria is urging residents like Roberts to call them with their flooding issues. Call their helpline number at 440-366-2211 or click here for more.
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