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In the days following the summer’s first major rainstorm, Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) visited his constituents. He walked up and down Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village, observing the destruction. Excess rainwater had flooded basements. Raw sewage had spurted from toilets and showers. Some tried to pick up the pieces. Others, too overwhelmed to clean, stood in their driveways talking to neighbors.

Comrie encouraged the victims of the July 18 flood to file claims with the City Comptroller’s office and they listened. The Comptroller’s office received approximately 70 claims – totaling at least $629,000 – for the July 18 flood. It’s a low figure when compared to the response following other disasters.

Queensites have reported everything from property damage to personal injury, but are most unhinged by the flood’s bringing sewage water into their homes.

New York City operates on a combined sewer system; the water main for “dry weather flow” or “normal sanitary flow” exists directly beneath the main for “wet weather flow.” An extreme amount of rainwater taxes the system, causing the sewage below to overflow.

Combined sewer overflows “can occur in wet weather when wastewater treatment plants and/or parts of the sewer system fill to capacity with rain or snow. To relieve pressure on the already filled-to-capacity wastewater treatment system, the excess flow is forced into the open waters of a river, bay or inlet,” Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Mercedes Padilla said. A DEP rendering presents the sewage overflow as directed toward a “combined sewage outfall,” but also reveals that the system also connects to plumbing leading to private homes.

Comrie’s constituents, and people throughout the borough, had 90 days from the date of the storm to file a claim. However, before the deadline had arrived, another flood ravaged the streets of Queens.

Once again the city’s sewer system was overworked. According to DEP, New York’s sewers can absorb 1.5 to 1.75 inches of rain per hour and the Aug. 8 rain surpassed 2 inches, reaching 4.5 inches an hours at one point.

A formal damage assessment tour conducted Aug. 16 elicited the attention of President George Bush and on Aug. 31 Queens was declared a federal disaster area. Brooklyn was declared one week later.

In order to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance, flood victims must register online or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA. As of Sep. 19, 1,438 Queensites had registered and 338 had visited the Disaster Assistance Center in Flushing. FEMA has approved $1,855,650 toward the Individuals and Households Program.

Of the 1,464 home inspections requested by both Queens and Brooklyn residents, 1,197 have been completed. According to last month’s Disaster Assessment Tour, however, 1,359 homes in Queens alone had been damaged by the Aug. 8 storm. The low numbers indicate a hesitancy to seek out aid.

An anonymous source from Fresh Meadows told the Tribune that many of her neighbors are afraid to have an inspector to their home due to the risk of getting cited for illegal basement conversions.

Although the city can’t compete with FEMA’s response, Comrie is advocating for people to file claims for Aug. 8 storm. As of Sep. 19, 105 people had done so. The Comptroller’s office considers bills, receipts and photographs before settling on a reimbursement. The Comptroller’s office has not yet allocated any money, but does have a representative present at the FEMA assistance center and may become involved depending on the case.

“We cannot comment on any individual case,” Comptroller spokesman Jeff Simmons said, “but we recognize the urgency of those who experienced this problem and suffered losses, so we are reviewing these cases, and where necessary, are requesting further documentation from people.”

Comrie said that by filing claims, Queens residents will ensure that the city has all the information it needs to begin improving the deteriorating infrastructure.

“We’re not going to be able to count on FEMA every time,” Comrie said.