Pierrefonds resident's return to his dank, wet home is bittersweet
Itsik Romano finds damage isn't as bad as he feared, but cherished mementos are lost, renovations loom
Itsik Romano had no idea what would be waiting for him when he returned to his floodedPierrefonds home for the first time in days.
When he finally walked up the steps and through the door of his house on Maons Street Thursdaymorning, he found the house didn't look as bad as he'd feared it would.
What he noticed first was the smell musty, wet andsewage-tinged.
First look inside garage since @ItsikRomano and family had to leave home Sunday. Just starting to assess damage. pic.twitter.com/CP0oo9BfpH
—@ShariOkeke
Romano, his wife KimBronsteinand their four childrenare among dozens of Pierrefonds-Roxboro residentsforced out of their homes due to flooding.They're staying with friends for now.
The water has receded in his neighbourhood, but still, Romano didn't sleep last night, wondering what lay in store.
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Towels left toabsorb the water in the basement laysoakedon the floor. Romanosaid it seems like mould growth is imminent, if it hasn't started already.
The water marks left on a wooden shelf in the garage indicate that water had pooled knee-high before the flood abated.Romano said he believes he willneed to tear out his basement and garage, renovate and replace everything.
Garbage truck backing up after @ItsikRomano told driver to leave. "There's a disconnect with the City" he says. pic.twitter.com/cBG8t1dYx6
—@ShariOkeke
Kim Bronstein trying to stay positive. Won't lose home but flood destroyed family photos, kids' drawings, memories pic.twitter.com/liY5P81MEF
—@ShariOkeke
They're grateful to their friends for offering them a place to say, but Bronstein said she knows they're imposing still,she's hoping the arrangement works out for just a little while longer.
The problem is that while the water has receded from their home, outside, everything is still wet.
"If we want to try to clean up, we have to move everything outside, and outside is wet," Romano explained.
This is the soccer field behind @ItsikRomano 's home on des Macons. Much more water than earlier this week he says. pic.twitter.com/ERjDA18zXT
—@ShariOkeke
With files from Shari Okeke