GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Larry Gibbs is looking at a very large repair bill for his home that was flooded during the Grand Rapids water main break earlier this month.
"I could be sleeping and my house could cave in," said Gibbs. "You know, it could cave in at any point. I could be downstairs and have that whole wall cave in."
To fix the foundation that's caving in, Gibbs said he was quoted for $80,000. To clear the black mold out of his basement, it would be an extra $20,000 from a different company.
He said it won't be covered by insurance and that they're still waiting to hear back from the city on what, if anything, can be done.
The amount of damage to his home will cost just as much as he bought it for 11 years ago.
"All my daughter talks about is, 'Dad are we going to lose the home, are we going to lose the house, are we going to lose our house?' And I'm like, 'No, we're going to get new stuff.' 'Well good, because I don't want to leave,'" said Gibbs.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with Mary Thompson, Gibb's next-door neighbor, when the flood waters had receded two weeks ago.
On Friday afternoon, she discovered the sinkhole that had been forming near the side of her house had grown not only in width but in depth as well.
"My concern is, are we going to lose our house in a sinkhole or what?" said Thompson.
While it's the biggest one on her property, it's one of many that have formed after the flooding — and that's not all.
When we first spoke to her, the basement was carpeted, it had a couch and it held her family's belongings. Now, it's barebones, with mostly everything thrown away.
And like Gibbs, they've also been dealing with mold.
"I was traumatized," said Thompson. "I have nothing in there. My bar, my furniture, everything is gone."
Both Thompsen and Gibbs said the City of Grand Rapids had an administrative meeting this afternoon. 13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to a representative who said in a statement:
The City has received seven property damage requests and anticipates more filings. We are still evaluating and reviewing those claims. Decisions on requests will be communicated directly to each homeowner as soon as possible.
Both homeowners said as of Friday afternoon, they have not heard back from anyone yet.
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