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Sandra Yi ReportingPaul Scott, Flood Victim: "We had just enough time to gather one or two bags full of clothes, got our five month old baby and hit the road."
Some Bountiful residents got a rude awakening early this morning when a water main break flooded more than a dozen condos. The break happened just before 2:30 this morning and affected the Lakeview Condominium Complex on 300 West Center Street. Fourteen units were flooded, leaving some of the residents homeless.
When storm drains couldn't handle the flow, it sent all the water right into the condominium complex. More than a dozen residents are 'drying out' after the water main break flooded their basement homes overnight. Residents are now left to sort through their wet and muddy belongings, and salvage what they can.
Paul Scott, Flood Victim: "We had about six inches of water in our kitchen and water gushing through the cracks of the door."
Cheryl Sternhagen, Flood Victim: "I've had floods from overflowing washers, things like that minor, but this, no."
Paul Scott, Flood Victim: "All the carpet throughout the 900 square feet is a complete loss so I don't think there's an inch of this place that didn't have water in it."
The cast iron pipe that burst just before 2:30 this morning was at least 30 years old. A three foot section gave way sending thousands of gallons of water a minute toward homes. City officials say it may have been unknowingly damaged when installed.
David Wilding, Superintendent, Bountiful City Water Dept.: "It might be the pressure's increased from running more pumps. It would have been marginally increased, maybe 10 pounds per square inch or something like that, but we wouldn't have expected something like this. It's been kind of a bad day for us. We had a couple of leaks earlier this week but I don't know. Maybe that's just bad luck. I hope that's all it is (laughs)."
That bad luck has temporarily cost some people their homes. It'll be a couple of weeks before Paul Scott and his family can return. And even then...
Paul Scott, Flood Victim: "We're looking at weeks, possibly months of remodeling. The carpet that was in here was not even a year old."
But with all the work ahead, at least one woman is making light of it all.
Cheryl Sternhagen, Flood Victim: "Wow, I get new carpet (laughs)."
City officials say another leak in Bountiful overnight was just as bad but there was no flooding as storm drains were able to handle the water flow.
As for residents, the city had crews come and help with the clean up. Some residents are able to return home today. For others, it could be a couple of days.
