Residents of Southwest Detroit woke up to severe flooding on Monday morning after a large water pipeline burst. The 54-inch water main break led to several feet of standing water in homes and streets, trapping people inside. Detroit Police and Fire rescued 76 people and 12 pets from the flooded area.
The pipeline break happened around 3:30 a.m. near Beard Street, but the flooding spread far beyond that location, even reaching Interstate 75. In some places, the water was so deep that it almost covered cars completely.
Officials have restored water service to most homes, but the damage was significant. Gary Brown, Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), said the street above the broken pipe was covered with up to five feet of water. Finding and shutting off the snow-covered valves took crews several hours. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan explained that the broken pipe was a Detroit-built but Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA)-maintained water main.
Sue Coffey, CEO of GLWA, stated that it took nearly five hours to shut off the water. She expressed sympathy for those affected, saying, “We understand how devastating this is, and we are committed to working with the city to restore the area.”
The aftermath of the flooding was shocking. Videos shared on social media showed cars submerged in water and dirt. One Reddit user commented, “This is one of the worst disasters I’ve ever seen. It’s horrible.” Another person said, “Forget the cars—what about the houses? Their foundations could be in trouble!” Some users also raised concerns about ice damage, wondering if freezing water would crush the submerged vehicles.
Mayor Duggan reassured residents that the city and water authority would help cover damages not included in homeowners’ insurance. He stated that city employees would visit affected homes to guide residents on filing damage claims. Additionally, transportation assistance will be provided to those whose vehicles were damaged or frozen in the flood. This includes offering rides to work and other essential trips.
This unexpected disaster has left many in Southwest Detroit dealing with major losses. However, city officials are working to provide support and help residents recover as quickly as possible.
