GREENFIELD — A water main break on South 37th and Kimberly Avenue in Greenfield has left multiple residents dealing with flooded basements and created a crack in the road that partially swallowed a Milwaukee DPW truck.
"Everything is just destroyed now," Lisa Abbott explained.
Abbott rushed to her parents' home Thursday afternoon after receiving a frantic call about flooding in their basement.
"And it happened so fast, it was so scary," she said.
According to Milwaukee DPW, the break occurred on a small water line, but one with significant water pressure that sent a large volume of water into the street and surrounding homes.
"I couldn't believe what I saw. I mean this water was all muddy and rising up from the basement. It was probably about 3 feet deep or so," Abbott said.
Abbott's first priority was salvaging irreplaceable family mementos from the rising water.
"I immediately went into the mode of trying to save personal items. Ya know my little art work from school, and all the photo albums and sentimental things," she said.
While Abbott worked to control the damage inside, crews outside addressed the broken water main and the DPW truck that had broken through the compromised road surface.
Watch: Water main break floods Greenfield basements, sinks DPW truck
Edward Smith, who lives on the block, watched the situation unfold with concern for neighborhood safety.
"I was kinda worried about the kids walking there. Obviously you don't want kids falling into the ground," Smith said.
Smith is among at least half a dozen neighbors now dealing with water damage in their homes.
"The basements flooded. We got like 6-8 inches down there. Everything that was on the ground is ruined," he said.
According to DPW, "crews are working to remove the truck, after which they will begin repairs and work to restore water service. Approximately 20 homes in the area are currently without water."
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