DEARBORN — Last Monday evening, over 2.5 feet of rain drenched main roads and neighborhood roads in the Dearborn-Dearborn Heights area, causing flooding in dozens of homes, according to Dearborn’s Department of Public Information.

Southfield Freeway service drive near Routanda, where traffic was directed after the freeway was blocked by rain water.

Some of the most severe areas affected by flooding included Telegraph road, below the Michigan Ave. overpass, where water rose to dangerous levels, resulting in dozens of backed up vehicles. Some drivers, who attempted to exit on the ramp to Telegraph found themselves trapped in the floods and unable to move, according to some witnesses. 

Another area affected by flooding was on Gulley Rd., just south of Cherry Hill, where cars were backed up from both directions. Gulley, a usually low-traffic route, was backed up all the way to Annapolis Rd. in Dearborn Heights, as some drivers tried to avoid the floods on Telegraph Rd.  

On Southfield Freeway, cars were stuck around the Village Road overpass, just south of Michigan Ave., where they were stranded in water for at least two hours. The freeway was completely shut down, backing up traffic and delaying people’s commute home for several hours.

Property damage was also caused at the Dearborn City Hall, where flooding occurred in some areas of the building’s west wing. According to Mary Laundroche, the Director of Public Information, a thorough investigation has not found any faults with Dearborn’s sewer systems. On Wednesday, she told the Dearborn Press and Guide that some streets flooded because the sewers could not handle so much rain in such a small amount of time. 

The City posted information on its website, www.cityofdearborn.org, about how to file a claim with the City, if a problem with a City line is suspected; although it may not be that easy for residents to make such claims. According to Assistant City Attorney William Irving, residents who file claims with the City regarding property damage must prove that the public sewer was defective. 

Residents whose basements flooded and who need assistance with the clean-up of debris can call the Residential Services Department at 313.515.2126. While City assistance is not guaranteed, a quick evaluation of each individual resident’s situation will be conducted.