FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) workers have been on-site pumping raw sewage from the
aff ected homes.
City to help southeast Queens sewage
backup victims clean and sanitize
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Following a massive sewer backup that
fl ooded homes in southeast Queens this
past weekend, City Comptroller Scott
Stringer on Monday visited impacted
homeowners seeking assistance at the
Courtyard Marriott Hotel.
Distraught homeowners patiently waited
in line at the service center, located
downstairs in the Courtyard Marriott, at
145-11 North Conduit Ave. in Jamaica,
to fi ll out a notice of claim from the
Comptroller’s Offi ce in order to be reimbursed
for out-of-pocket expenses.
“My heart goes out to all who have
been impacted by this sewage backup. To
expedite cleanup and removal, we have
granted emergency procurement authority
to the city,” Stringer said. “DEP and
my offi ce will be investigating the cause
of this sewer backup. As the cause of the
incident is investigated, I urge impacted
homeowners to fi le a notice of claim with
my offi ce within 90 days of the incident
and to contact their insurance companies
immediately.”
Following the incident, residents say
the city’s response in providing emergency
services has been “quite slow.”
Aft er making numerous calls to 311 and
fi ling a complaint, homeowner Narendra
Singh purchased his own equipment to
pump the raw sewage in his basement,
he said.
“I got help last night from DEP to pump
water. I don’t have no heat and no water
and am helping myself out now,” said
Singh, before he went to fi le a notice of
claim. “Th is is a disaster with 2 feet of
water that has damaged my brand-new
boiler and everything else down there.”
Homeowner Bina Balgobin was forced
to leave her home due to the unbearable
stench.
“We were sleeping in the car because
they said they were going to send us to
Astoria, and we didn’t go because that’s
too far,” Balgobin said. “It’s been crazy
with that stinky smell and the fl ooding
in the basement. Th e boiler was broken
and we fi xed it. It was almost between 2
and 3 feet of water in the basement. We
needed at least seven pumps to get rid of
the water.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio visited
the site this aft ernoon to assess the
damage and updates on repairs while
meeting with a homeowner. While
repairs are ongoing, the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) and
NYC Emergency Management are ensuring
that homeowners receive services they
need.
Th e Department of Small Business
Services is working with Emergency
Management on the eff ort, and cleaning
is expected to begin tonight. Th e city
noted that drinking water remains safe
and unaff ected.
“I feel for the homeowners in Queens
who were aff ected by the sewage blockage
this weekend,” de Blasio said. “We are
implementing the emergency procurement
process to ensure that homes are
cleaned quickly, and we are going to work
with each and every New Yorker who
experienced fl ooding to make sure they
get back on their feet.”
To date, the city has confi rmed that
74 homes were aff ected by fl ooding. Th e
Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) has installed a bypass pump to
assist with fl ooding while repairs to the
sewage line are ongoing and additional
equipment is brought into the area.
The New York City Emergency
Management and the FDNY are bringing
in portable heaters for those whose boilers
were aff ected, and has set-up emergency
resources in the area to immediately
respond to any emergencies.
Queens Borough Hall’s holiday toy drive is underway
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e annual holiday toy drive at
Queens Borough Hall for children in
need is underway from now through
Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Queens residents are encouraged to
donate new, unwrapped toys for children
of all ages.
Donations dropped off at Queens
Borough Hall are anonymous and are
not tax-deductible. At the conclusion
of the drive, the donated items will be
distributed by the Battalion Pentecostal
Assembly Church in Far Rockaway
and St. Mary’s Healthcare System for
Children in Bayside to children in need
across Queens.
“Th e holiday season is a time to rejoice
with our families and give thanks for the
blessings in our lives,” Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz said. “In the
spirit of giving, please consider donating
to make sure children across the
borough will share in the joy the holidays
bring.”
Queens Borough president Melinda Katz announces her annual holiday toy drive is underway at
Borough Hall.
Anyone interested in donating can do
so by placing their item into the Holiday
Toy Drive box in the lobby of Queens
Borough Hall, located at 12-55 Queens
Courtesy of Borough Hall
Blvd. in Kew Gardens. Borough Hall can
be reached by mass transit by taking the
E or F subway lines to the Kew Gardens-
Union Turnpike station.
Photos: Carlotta Mohamed/QNS
City Comptroller Scott Stringer (c.) and Senator James Sanders Jr. visit the southeast Queens
neighborhood aff ected by the sewer back-up that severely damaged homes this past weekend.
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
