DETROIT — Early Monday morning, Claudia Ortiz received a call from a neighbor warning her that water was quickly accumulating on their street in Detroit.

Shortly thereafter, a significant water leak from a ruptured high-capacity water transmission main surged through the narrow streets and flooded the basements of homes in the tight-knit neighborhood located a few miles southwest of downtown.

“It resembled a white-water rafting situation. The water was rushing down at a tremendous speed,” Ortiz recounted during an interview from her living room, which was only warmed by a small space heater resting on the floor.

“Everyone was terrified,” she remarked. “It was absolute chaos.”

The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. on Monday, when a massive 54-inch steel water main that had been in operation for nearly a century burst just outside Ortiz’s residence. The break unleashed a torrent of water from an expanding crater, affecting over 90 residents who needed assistance evacuating their homes. Firefighters aided some individuals through waist-deep water using rubber rafts, while others were rescued from the flooding in the bucket of a construction front loader.

According to city officials, this water main, built circa 1930, experienced a failure under freezing temperatures, although the precise cause of the rupture remains under investigation.

“If you lack heat, water, or power, there’s no requirement to stay in your home,” Mayor Mike Duggan advised on Monday. “We will provide shelter in decent hotel accommodations.”

The floodwaters began to recede later that Monday morning, following the discovery of the break and the subsequent stoppage of water flow.

The large transmission mains are responsible for transporting water from pump stations situated by the Detroit River. This water subsequently flows into smaller pipes that branch out into neighborhoods and connect to home service lines.

In terms of impact, Mayor Duggan noted that almost 400 homes were affected in the emergency flood zone. Among those impacted, 72 homes were without electricity, 190 had flooded basements, and 174 were left without heating on Tuesday, creating enduring hardships for residents.

Many vehicles, covered in snow, remained entrapped in water up to their wheel wells or hoods until drainage finally occurred. As of Wednesday, the tires of these vehicles remained encased in ice, frozen to the pavement.

Linda Hoskins found herself without gas heating on Wednesday. She expressed concerns that her furnace and water heater likely suffered irreparable damage due to the flood in her basement.

“It was gushing in … completely engulfing the house,” she recounted while sitting on her front steps as city workers excavated through soil, clay, and muck at the site of the water main break.

“It happened too rapidly,” Hoskins continued. “Initially, we believed the water was coming through the door. People will likely experience foundation issues due to the water pouring through the walls.”

Despite the difficulties, both Ortiz and Hoskins chose to remain home, relying on several space heaters for warmth.

“I have belongings in my house. This is my home,” Hoskins stated. “My husband continues to work, so we have an income. We still need to manage our bills. They offered us a hotel, but others have greater needs than we do.”

As for the next steps, crews have commenced excavation around the water main break site.

A 12-foot section of the damaged pipe is set to be replaced, and the new section is expected to arrive within a day, according to the Great Lakes Water Authority, while the water main will remain out of service for a minimum of two weeks.

Funding from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and the Water Authority will be utilized to cover hotel accommodations and meals for displaced residents. Additionally, plans are in place to repair damages to uninsured furnaces and hot water heaters and assist in cleaning out basements, as confirmed by Mayor Duggan.

Crews are anticipated to begin clearing areas of homes that did not face severe damage by Thursday, noted Gary Brown, the director of the city’s water department.

“We have a specialized team experienced in recovery efforts, and you’ll see us moving through these properties efficiently,” Brown commented.

However, uncertainty looms for residents.

Currently, Hoskins is dealing with puddles of what she describes as sludge in her basement. As of early Wednesday afternoon, Ortiz, who manages a home renovation business, had yet to assess the condition of clothing, power tools, and other belongings stored in her basement.

“I checked when the flood waters weren’t too high, attempting to elevate items on tables, but the rapid influx of water was overwhelming and dislodged everything. It was an astonishing amount of water flooding in from the drains,” she explained.

City officials have made efforts to reach out to Ortiz and her neighbors, offering door-to-door assistance and checking if any help is required.

Due to her homeowner’s insurance policy excluding flood coverage, Ortiz mentioned she would accept the city’s assistance for her damages.

“At least regarding my heater, I’m hoping to recoup something,” she stated. “It’s undoubtedly going to be difficult. Sometimes it feels like I’m still in disbelief. I’m not even sure if I’m genuinely feeling the cold; I’m simply frightened.”