Marion Family Loses Christmas Presents, Apartment, to Waste Water

Christmas decorations are still hanging in a Marion family's home, but most everything else they've lost -- including their apartment -- to waste water that came bubbling up from the ground.

"We tried to push the water to the drain and it came squirting up," Katie Libby told KCRG.

The family said that just after 6 a.m. Wednesday, the water started seeping in and never stopped. 

The family of five is unsure when or if they will get back into their apartment. On Thursday, Libby and her boyfriend, Derrick Knight, walked around their apartment, their shoes sinking in the saturated carpet, the station reported.

"The only stuff that isn't lost is whatever is on the top of my closet because everything else is wet," Libby said.

Included in their losses were the toys Libby's three children unwrapped just two days ago. 

"The worst part is my kids, because I used all my money for Christmas and now they have no toys to show for it," she said.

The City of Marion came to the apartment on Thursday and posted signs that said "Do Not Occupy." The Code compliance coordinator informed the family they couldn't stay at the apartment complex until the problem was completely fixed.

The landlord of the complex Ron Digmann said people were already working to fix the apartment and he expects all the water to be drained out by tomorrow. Digmann said it's still unclear what caused the problem or when the apartment will be ready for people to move back in.