Families given one week to move out of apartments after sewage leak

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Several families said they were given one week to move out of their homes after a sewage leak flooded a Statesville apartment complex.

Resident Kantrell Knox said she woke up to standing water inside her home last Wednesday at Forest Park Gardens apartment complex.

“There’s standing water on my bathroom floor and in my bedroom the carpet is destroyed,” she said. “I woke up at 8:30 and then I discovered that my hallways, my master bedroom and the second bedroom were already covered.”

Knox’s apartment was one of eight that was flooded with raw sewage last Wednesday. Kyra Booker’s apartment was one of the hardest hit.

“I look in and that’s where I see all of the water on the floor,” she said, describing the moment she discovered the water.

Latoya Gillespie told Channel 9 that she tried to warn the manager because she was also a resident three years ago when a smaller, but similar sewage back up hit.

“I’m the one who’s been here when this happened twice. When the water started gurgling like that I knew what was going on,” Gillespie said.

The owner of the apartment complex, David Presley, said the leak was caused by people pouring grease down the kitchen sink. He said he warned all of his residents not to pour grease down the sink because the result can be disastrous.

“It’s a tragedy … just as a fire would be,” he said.

Presley said he had to move everyone out quickly for safety’s sake.

“I do know it’s a health issue and that’s why we sent that notice to our residents saying you’ll just have to move,” he said.

According to Presley, workers are coming in this week to rip up carpet and start renovations, but he doesn’t know how long that will take. He said he is offering residents to move back in once the work is complete.

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Kannapolis mother of 4 forced to leave apartment after huge leak, roaches

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