YAKIMA, Wash. -- Approximately 250-thousand gallons of water spilled after a water main broke in Terrace Heights Thursday night, according to Yakima County Public Services.
Neighbors we spoke to say this is not the first time this type of incident has happened. Insurance experts say this is a great reminder to check your homeowners policy to make sure you're covered if a water main breaks near your home.
Homeowners Donna and Gene Barlow say their basement had up to two-feet of water Thursday.
The Barlows say they were sitting upstairs watching, of all things, a home improvement show on their television when they were informed by neighbors their front yard was flooded.
"Water came across the patio and it filled the window well, and then it burst the window," Donna Barlow explained.
The water then made its way into the downstairs bedroom, pushing down a door.
On Friday, workers with the ServiceMaster Cleaning company were removing garbage and cleaning the downstairs of the Barlow residence.
"There's not any way to prevent it, really," said Barlow. "It's just a pipeline, and it's been there for awhile. And if it breaks, it's a horrible surprise to everybody."
Water damage isn't always covered, even if you have homeowners insurance. Luckily for the Barlows, they are.
"In general, with the homeowners policy, if you have water coming through a window, where it came into a window well and down into a basement, in general there will be coverage for that sort of thing," explained Dick Elliott of Elliott Insurance Service, Inc. In Yakima.
However, if the water comes through your home's foundation Elliott says it probably won't be covered.
He says the homeowners policy doesn't cover earthquakes, landslides, or mud flows. Owners would need to get a different type of coverage.
Experts say not having insurance on your home doesn't necessarily mean you won't get the help, but it could mean for a longer wait and cost you thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket fees, until a settlement can be reached through the county or company responsible.
"You may have to look to the city or the water company, or the water district to be able to get relief for the damage to your house as a result of that water," Elliott. said.
The Barlows say it could take them up to three months to get their home back to normal.
"It really takes the stress away, because you know it's going to work out eventually," Donna Barlow said about having insurance.
A spokesperson for Yakima County Public Services told KNDO Friday, crews have replaced the section of pipe that broke Thursday night.
They say the pipe had been sitting on large rocks for quite some time, before the county took over the system, and created pressure points causing it to split.
According to the spokesperson, the same water main broke a few years ago when a contractor accidentally damaged a pipe, while they were installing an underground cable.
We asked the County whether they'll replace the water system, but they say there isn't enough funding available to have it done.
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