Renters swamped with flooding issues

The Campus Walk Apartments’ drains were still clogged with debris from Monday’s rain on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, many residents are trying to mop up the damage the floods left behind.

Brian Sapracino was out of town during Monday’s extreme rain. He returned to his Campus Walk Apartment to find water squishing from his bedroom carpet. “I have flies accumulating in here now; it’s as if you were to have a hot humid swamp next to you mixed with wet trash.”

Next door neighbor Naqusha Cokeley was home during the flood. She and her daughters were forced to evacuate.

Soaked carpet sits outside the apartment of Randy Loaiza. “I mean it was pretty bad in there, it was up to ankle high. All the stuff that was on the bottom is soaking wet so you might as well throw that out.”

The three Campus Walk renters say they have no place to live, and are getting little help from the property owners.

Campus Walk managers declined to appear on camera, but issued a statement: “We have set up temporary storage containers and have been working to assist our residents, to expedite the repair process.”

Campus Walk goes on to say they will review each situation. Residents could receive either hotel accommodations or have their rent waived while they are displaced.

But renters say that’s not enough. “Are they going to help us with food and shelter, and pay the motel? Because right now they’re telling us after three days, we’re on our own, that’s it,” said Cokeley.

That has forced some tenants to find other accommodations. “Basically my car has become my hotel for the next day,” said Sapracino.

Lawyer Tom Goolsby said landlords are only responsible for reimbursing renters for each day they are out of the apartment.

Unless the residents had flood insurance, they will not be paid for their damaged property, but the landlord is responsible for the condition of the apartment.

The renter can have the apartment inspected by the Health Department to make sure it is safe before they move back in.