1 year later: SW Detroit residents still recovering from catastrophic water main break

One year after a catastrophic 54-inch water main break flooded neighborhoods with up to four feet of water, some residents say they’re still struggling with unresolved damage claims and deteriorating home foundations, while city officials maintain they’ve fulfilled their promises to the community. The Feb. 17, 2025, rupture forced roughly 150 families to evacuate their homes, prompting dramatic rescues by raft and front loaders as freezing temperatures complicated the emergency response.