Victims of Philadelphia water main break speak up to City Council

WEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia residents who've endured water main breaks sounded off to City Council members Wednesday.

"I have lost every appliance in my house, from my refrigerator to my freezer, due to this flood," Fallon Postell told City Council.

Postell is one of nearly 80 flood victims due to last June's huge water main break in West Philadelphia.

She showed us the mold and other problems that remain in her rowhome which City Hall is supposed to be tending to.

"They sent an electrician in who did very shoddy work," Postell said.

Postell is one of nearly a dozen flood victims who appeared before City Council, saying five months later, the city has not provided the quality of repairs or the money to properly restore their home.

"We're not asking for five star renovations. We don't want fresh hardwood floors. We just want what we had," Postell said.

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell called the hearing to air constituent complaints about incompetence and possible corruption in the system that is supposed to dispense aid money or contractors.

"Some things were just so blatantly unfair, immoral, illegal, and wrong, and that is why we're so frustrated...I get angry every time I talk about it," Blackwell said.

The city's Office of Risk Management is responsible for addressing property-owner claims.

"We have worked with all of the residents to try to resolve all of their issues," Risk Manager Barry Scott said

Reverend Albert Hundley and his wife have documented an estimated $42,000 in property loss and damage.

"They offered $9,000. We wouldn't accept it. They called him yesterday and said $15,000. That was the highest they were going," Eleanor Hundley said.

City Council says by the end of November they will pass the kinds of reforms desperately needed to correct what appears to be major leaks in the this repair system.