News

Actions

A slippery slope: Byron Township family deals with significant yard flooding

Posted at 7:00 PM, Aug 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-15 19:00:11-04

BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – With record-setting rainfall this weekend came some messy flooding, especially for one family in Byron Township with an added variable.

For eleven years, the Mann family – Jeremy, Denise and their three kids – have lived at their home on 92nd Street. Their property sits directly behind and downhill from an ongoing addition to the Planter’s Row subdivision. Now, what used to be all wooded land, is a cleared and sloped construction sight.

"When we had the heavy rains this past weekend, everything from that hill just came down,” said Denise Mann.

mud pic 1 mud pic 2 mud pic 3mud pic 4

The runoff created a lingering clay-like substance in the yard, driveway, and nearby roadway that has yet to harden up 24-hours later.

"It’s in our entire yard,” said Denise. “It washed away our driveway; everything."

The construction company behind the project was out earlier in the day, digging a trench to divert the water. They also told the FOX 17 Problem Solvers they plan to send out personnel to assess and fix as much of the damage as possible. For the Mann family, it could be too little too late with more rain expected overnight.

"What’s going to happen tonight when it rains?” asked Denise. “Is all that dirt going to run out of there again?"

"The kids can't play over here, we can't use the pool – our whole quality of life is destroyed over here."