INDIANAPOLIS — People living in a northeast side apartment complex are asking for help.
With each minute that passes by, water in their flooded hallway rises, seeping closer and closer to their apartments. And as this happens, their frustration is also building because they cannot get anyone to come out to fix the problem.
David Hawkins and his girlfriend, Harriet Smith, live at Hubbard Gardens near East 42nd Street and Sherman Drive. They have cardboard boxes, newspaper and blankets soaking up flood water coming from the hallway. It's an issue residents have been dealing with for more than a week.
"This water will continue to run. It's already ran into our apartment," Hawkins said. "These apartments are new. Why are we having a problem like this."
The drainage system is also backing up inside apartments.
"It's feces, water, toilet paper," Teresa Henderson said. "Who wants to come home to that? We have hardwood floors on the inside. When you come home, you walk in this hallway. You are tracking that into your house. "Ain't no emergency maintenance you can call to get something done."
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Maintenance crews cleaned up Hawkins' apartment, and they were out earlier in the week to look at the issue causing the flooded hallway. However, residents said it's not fixed. As water continues to spread, they can't get in touch with anyone.
"When I came home Friday morning, my apartment was full of feces where they drain had backed up," Hawkins said.
Hawkins even called the fire department Saturday because water was coming from the electrical room.
"Electricity and water, that don't mix. If you hear a hissing sound you don't know what might happen. It might blow up, catch on fire, anything," Henderson said. "That's what they said. This is a hot mess."
Hawkins is especially worried about his girlfriend. Due to the water, she can't access the wheelchair ramp she needs to use to get out of the building.
"You can't just have people live like this," Hawkins said. "Upper income, middle income, or what. Nobody should have to live like this."
RTV6 placed calls and emails to the apartment complex and their management company. Residents said they worry the issue won't get fixed until office staff returns to work Tuesday.
