MILFORD, CT (WFSB) -
In the Naugatuck Avenue neighborhood in Milford, flooding has been ongoing problem and Friday, all eyes were on the drains that don't seem to be doing what they're supposed to do.
Former firefighter Frank Rohrig said the last big storm in late September left his wife and him in water up to their knees. He had to go the doctor's office because he became sick from the water.
"And we had to wade through the water ourselves," Rohrig said. "We were soaked, our shoes and what have you."
Evelyn Tristau said everything in her yard starts floating away every time there is a major rain storm too.
Tristau's cars were totaled and her basement was destroyed in September. The most recent storm was difficult for Tristau because she was at home recovering from surgery.
"The water rushes in from the street through the walls and out to the back yard," she previously told Eyewitness News.
Tristau records the damage and she even showed Eyewitness News a letter that she sent to the previous Milford mayor in 2001.
The city of Milford told Eyewitness News that they are working on a solution for Tristau, but the approval process has been lengthy.
City officials are trying to add a bigger drainage pipe along Naugatuck Avenue, which is near Tristau's home, however that is years from completion. They cleaned the drain pipe in the area last week.
"Could it get that filled with debris," Rohrig said. "I don't believe so. I don't believe so."
Mayor Benjamin G. Blake said the drains will be cleaned each week and they have a new device on loan that sucks out all of the debris. The city is currently building a more powerful device.
"I haven't seen the drain cleaned in sometime," Rohrig said.
The mayor is talking to the city's public works department about the one drain that doesn't appear to have been cleaned.
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