LAVAL – Some residents in the Vimont area of Laval want the city to step up following a messy water main break.
On Tuesday afternoon, workers building a sound barrier along Highway 440 hit a pipe, causing water to gush into nearby homes.
READ MORE: Laval water main break causes flooding, evacuations
Seventy-five residents were evacuated.
Ivana, who asked not to be identified, has spent two nights living in the homes of strangers, along with her husband and two children.
They have no insurance.
Thursday morning, she was told she could return back home, but her apartment is still without electricity or running water.
“I lost all my groceries. My refrigerator has been closed for two days. I’ve had no electricity since Tuesday and we’re Thursday,” she said.
“I’m on assisted living, I don’t have any money for groceries – what am I supposed to do? What is anybody going to do for me? I mean, what am I supposed to do to feed my two kids?”
After hearing what happened to Ivana, a complete stranger offered her shelter.
“The second my son saw his friend, he says ‘hey this is my friend,'” said Laval resident, Christine Zaraa.
“I stopped and talked to her, asked what’s happening, cause I live down the street and I saw it’s a disaster. She can’t go back to her house, she has nowhere else to go. She has no family, they have no where else to go – there’s no other options for these people.”
Ivana blames the City of Laval and wants them to take responsibility.
“I think the City of Laval, should do something,” she said.
“They took a chance. When you build a construction like this, shouldn’t you see what’s going on, where you’re drilling?”
Laval did have workers on site Thursday to speak with residents, but Ivana is disappointed with the $53 voucher she was offered and is hoping for more.
“I would advise them to strongly call the 311, explain the situation,” said Laval’s deputy mayor David De Cotis.
“The city has programs to help families in need, especially in these kinds of circumstances. That should not be an issue. The city has a budget allocated – not only for this incident, but overall incidents in the City of Laval.”
Thursday afternoon, Ivana’s landlord told Global News an electrician, plumber and cleaners were on site and are hoping to move Ivana and her family back into their home as soon as possible.
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