Dozens displaced in apartment flood

SANDUSKY — After a burst pipe flooded and completely damaged a local apartment complex, displacing several dozen residents, a manager said repair work is continuing. Flooding at the structure, Leisure Apartments in the 2400 block of Milan Road (U.S. 250), near the Milan Road overpass, displaced about 70 residents, including many seniors, according to a Sandusky fire report. Mindy Kohler — a property manager with Sandusky Apartments, which manages 10 apartment complexes across the city — said the company doesn't have a definite timeline for when residents can return, but it is working as quickly as possible and keeping in contact with residents. Reports detail chaos, residents 'screaming for help' Sandusky police and fire reports, along with police body camera footage, showcased the hectic scene encountered by first responders when the pipe burst Wednesday afternoon. First responders arrived at the complex at about 3:13 p.m. after receiving multiple phone calls regarding "elderly residents" being trapped inside their apartments and "screaming for help," according to a Sandusky police report. When police arrived at the complex, water was flowing throughout the first floor of the two-story building. The building accumulated as much as eight inches of standing water with large amounts cascading down the stairwell and over a second-story balcony onto the floor below, the report states. At least one person was injured during the flooding. Sandusky firefighters reported finding this resident with a cut on their head caused by falling debris, the fire report states. It wasn't clear if anyone else was hurt. Officials noted that the flood was caused by a broken sprinkler pipe located in the attic, according to information provided to the fire department by the building's maintenance staff. First responders assisted in safely transporting residents out of the building. Once the water flow began to subside, the residents were escorted back inside to retrieve medications and any salvageable personal items, the fire report states. After residents were allowed back inside to gather their belongings, five Sandusky Transit buses were on scene to transport them to temporary accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express and Super 8 Motel. Others left in their own vehicles. Firefighters noted the apartment complex suffered about $150,000 in damage, while about $300,000 of personal property inside the building was also damaged, the report states. Groups step up to help Along with hotel accommodations, a local senior advocacy organization — the Erie County Senior Center located at 620 E. Water St. in Sandusky — is actively distributing meals to at least five flood-affected residents. The center's director, Robert Fitzgerald, said that the senior center became involved after the region's Area Office on Aging contacted them, stating that a few residents from the flood needed help with meals. Fitzgerald added that the meals provided to the five residents are part of the senior center's Meals on Wheels program, which delivers more than 83,000 meals annually to homebound residents aged 60 and older. In terms of providing additional services to the five residents or any others, Fitzgerald said they are more than happy to do so if needed, and that the Area Office on Aging will contact the center to let them know what additional services might be needed. Those looking to assist can contact the senior center by calling 419-626-2560.