Cranston families left to pick up pieces after flood, fire destroyed their homes
CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — They say it’s not a house that makes a home, and that saying is true for one resident who lives at Dean Estates in Cranston.
“My kids keep me going every day, that’s what keeps me going,” said Bob Catania, who lives with his three daughters in the apartment complex.
Sunday morning, they experienced serious flooding caused by heavy rain when fast-moving water came flowing into their apartment from outside.
“Basically, we have to buy all new furniture, all the bureaus, everything is starting to break apart now,” Catania continued.
Fire Chief James Warren told ABC 6 News that first it was flooding, then a small fire broke out at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, starting in a dryer unit on the second floor.
“All the water has been pumped out, the electricity has been turned back on, so it’s been restored from the flood — we removed all the residents, there were no injuries to the firefighters or the residents,” Warren said.
Warren also said two pets died in the flood and two pets are still missing.
“We’re all just sitting outside for the last two days almost now, but we do what we can,” Catania continued.
He said this is the fourth flood at Dean Estates since 2010, but the worst one his family has seen.
“The last flood was last Labor Day and it took them three months to do the repairs,” Catania explained.
While nobody was injured in the flooding and fire, Catania and his family, among other residents, are left picking up the pieces.
“I mean, those are materialistic things. I can replace those things, but I can’t replace my kids, so as long as we’re all safe, we’re good,” Catania concluded.
ABC 6 reached out to Dean Estates for comment, to which they declined the request.
Cranston’s city solicitor says residents were allowed back into the south building but have to sign a liability waiver to the city.
The north building has been condemned and the American Red Cross is assisting residents from 24 units that are now displaced.
