Overview

• A 54-inch steel water main built in the 1930s ruptured early Monday, February 17, flooding streets and homes in Southwest Detroit with up to five feet of water.
• The break displaced nearly 300 households, with many residents relocated to city-funded hotels or staying with family and friends due to uninhabitable conditions.
• Crews faced delays locating shut-off valves due to icy conditions, while temperatures dropped as low as 1.4°F, compounding the damage to homes and vehicles.
• City officials estimate that repairs to the water main will take two weeks, with full recovery efforts, including restoring heat and cleaning basements, expected to take up to six weeks.
• The city and the Great Lakes Water Authority have pledged to cover damages not covered by insurance, including repairs to furnaces, water heaters, and other property losses.