Ramos Court Homeowners Return To Severe Water Damage, Mold

After living in hotels for more than a month, some of the people whose homes flooded after a levee breach were settling back in Monday.

“The smell from the water and things … it’s not livable,” said Ramos Court homeowner Antonio Martinez, who returned home with his family Monday.

Instead of finding a house that was move-in ready, he found severe water damage, mold and a foul smell coming from the floor boards.

He described the smell as, “water when it has stunk for a while.”

Martinez and his family were living in a motel after a levee on the Franklin Canal broke and flooded the Ramos Court neighborhood. Last week, City Council announced that 10 of the 17 homes damaged were safe enough for the families to return.

Martinez and neighbor Mario Guerra questioned the call.

“Today is actually the day that I get to come back and stay here, but the house is not livable,” lamented Martinez.

“We don’t have anywhere else to go. We’re gonna have to do our best here just like the rest of the residents,” Guerra said.

Guerra also worries about the possibility of dangerous mold growing in his house.

“If there’s somebody out there in the city who knows about mold, I hope they could step up and let us know what is the danger of it or what is not dangerous,” he added.

Residents got another unpleasant surprise when they found out the stoves, refrigerators and couches Project Home said they donated on Friday will eventually have to go back.

“They weren’t being given away,” Guerra said. “So we were told at the time they were unloading the stuff that they were just gonna be a loaner for two months.”

The residents stressed that they are thankful for all of the help from the city and Project Hope. They are still waiting to hear back from Hartford Insurance, the company responsible for reimbursing them.