Flood victims face months of costly repairs

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Several residents forced to evacuate because of flash flooding face months living out of their homes due to damage repairs.

Insurance adjusters started surveying properties by Thursday.

Despite having flood insurance, Cody Pierson, of Manhattan Avenue in Wayne Township, said he anticipated paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.

Pierson’s house is in a flood zone, one door down from the drainage canal that overflowed on Tuesday.

“Before I knew it, it was spilling in the house. (We) tried to grab up everything we could; the kids, the dogs and started trucking through the water,” Pierson said.

His family has moved in with relatives while flooring, interior doors, furniture and drywall is removed.

Pierson explained his insurance will not cover possessions or furniture, only the structure of the house and garage.

“My couch is ruined. My bed’s ruined. All the doors are ruined. The carpet I just replaced four or five months ago is all ruined,” Pierson said.

The same drainage canal flooded in 2003, leaving some neighbors to question whether the city could widen or dredge the infrastructure to prevent future incidents. 24-Hour News 8 is awaiting a response from Indianapolis leaders on whether such work has been considered.