Assessing Flood Damage

Residents and business owners were still cleaning up Wednesday from the in Westwood when the Pascack Brook overflowed its banks. Some have spent thousands of dollars for the cleanup and said they are considering leaving the area to escape the waters.

Steuben Avenue resident Tom Bisdale said there was 3.5 feet of water in his home last Thursday and that this is the third major flood in four months he's experienced. The cleanup for each flood has cost about $3,000, he said. His flood insurance gave what he deemed a fair settlement for the March flood but denied his claim for flooding in April. Bisdale said he filed a notice of appeal this week and is waiting to hear back.

"The real hardship is having to replace the hot water heater for the third time," Bisdale said. "The one we're throwing out today [Wednesday] was just installed about two weeks ago."

Bisdale was also getting rid of a washer and dryer, mattresses, tables and chairs.

Bisdale and his family have lived on Steuben Avenue for 21 years and they've considered moving each time it's flooded.

"When you're most motivated to move is when your house is least likely to get enough to pay off your mortgage and any kind of money to buy anything new," Bisdale said.

Nugent Place resident Steven Pirretti said his house had one to two feet of water inside last week.

"It was horrific," Pirretti said. His family lost humidifiers, computers, couches, cables and TVs and had to replace the air conditioning unit and hot water heater. He hopes the family's flood insurance covers the damage.

For those with businesses along Broadway, the cleanup is costing thousands. Many said they don't have flood insurance because it is cost prohibitive.

Chinta Ramcalian, owner of , said she spent $10,000 to get her business back up and running.

"There was massive damage in here. There was no power, no phone. The firemen had to evacuate me from here. It was chaos," Ramcalian said. "The water was halfway up my door, about three feet or more."

She said she had to replace a refrigerator, all the countertops, the credit card machine and more.

Ramcalian said she is looking for another location for her business. "I can't go through this again," she said. "It's too much."

Jim Cordes, owner of , said he's had his business on Broadway for 30 years but is now considering leaving. He said last year he moved to his current location, which is next door to his old one, to avoid the floods since the building is higher off the ground.

"This flooded four times in 29 years. I moved here and got three floods in four months," Cordes said. "This is too much."

Cordes said the water was 26 inches deep in his business. To repair the damage, he said he'll have to spend $1,500 to $2,000, but taking repairs he has to make into account, he said the cost rises to $4,000.

Although Steve Macioci, owner of , said he was able to get equipment out of his gym before the water hit, he estimates the cleanup from last week's flood will cost him between $5,000 and $7,000.

He said the water came quickly. "Within 15 minutes it went from dry to a foot of water," Macioci said, adding he had to carry his fiance out because the water went past her ribs.

Macioci said mud was the biggest problem at his gym and the sheetrock had to be replaced. "It's such an inconvenience," he said.

Customers pitched in to help Macioci and Ramcalian after the waters receded. Macioci said he had 15 volunteers help clean up the gym and Ramcalian said a customer who is also a landscaper helped by coming with his crew to clean her store.

"I like my location. I like Westwood," Macioci said. "I've been here for two and a half years and this has not happened until the past four months." He said he plans to search for a new location for when his lease is up.

All those affected by the flooding said they want something to be done.

"I live in a flood section in Lincoln Park and it's never flooded three times in four months," Macioci said.