Hoarding Situation Leads To Rats, Filth In Vernon Neighborhood

Written By Eliza Kruczynski of WFSB 3 TV

VERNON, CT — A major hoarding situation at a home in Vernon is leading to public health concerns and a rat problem in the neighborhood.

The hoarding situation is happening at a home on Warren Ave in Vernon. Complaints of odor and hoarding at the home began in 2020.

"Awful. Awful. I can't explain it. It was so thick at times you could almost taste the smell if that makes sense to you," said neighbor Eric McVeigh.

Neighbor Eric McVeigh says he recalls not being able to open his windows this past summer because of the smell.

He says the smell was only the start of the home's problems.

"My wife is scared to go downstairs and do laundry because she’s afraid she’s going to see a rat or something in our own house," said McVeigh.

Letters went out to the town, and it was eventually determined to be a health hazard. In October the owner was removed, and the house was boarded up.

Crews showed up to clean the home last Friday finding piles on every surface and floor, removing the rotting food and garbage surrounding every inch of the house.

"A whole crew showed up with skid steers and dumpsters and suits and masks and they started taking the wood off the doors and dragging stuff outside," said Eric.

However with that trash, came rats which have invaded nearby homes.

"About a month and a half ago, two months ago we started seeing rats. There have been rats in our yard, climbing through the fence, our dogs chasing them," said McVeigh.

While the situation is causing chaos in the neighborhood, the community has banded together.

"This is a very rare and unusual and unfortunate situation where a town has to intervene at this level. It’s not something that normally happens but it was severe enough and constituted a public health emergency," said town administrator Michael Purcaro.

Pest control has already visited some neighbor’s homes and the removal process continues but neighbors are pleased with how things are going.

"We couldn’t ask for a better town to live in, the town of Vernon has really been top notch, very pleased with them," said McVeigh.

The situation is so bad, it will take about a month to clean and fully disinfect.

This story first appeared on WFSB 3 TV. You can watch video of the WFSB 3 TV story by clicking here. This story was shared on Vernon Patch with permission from WFSB 3 TV.