There was the man who said he's still in a hotel because his home is too damaged from the December storm. Another woman claimed the city's lack of response is causing her neighbor's four kids to live in four different temporary houses.

Almost all of the roughly 60 people who gathered at The Valley School in Madison Valley Thursday night had hardship stories from December flooding, and hard questions for city leaders that didn't always have answers.

At the meeting -- advertised by mailings to homes, including the estimated 30 homes damaged by December flooding -- city officials explained long-term solutions proposed for floodwater backups in the area.

But some residents worried that lack of action could lead to greater damage in the future or possibly another death. On Dec. 14, Madison Valley resident Kate Fleming died after a 4-foot wall of water rushed down Dewey Place East and into her basement, drowning her.

For more than an hour, Seattle Public Utilities officials were hammered with questions about claims that many residents said had not been handled adequately. Madison Valley homeowners such as Susan Plunkett -- who said she filed a claim in December and has not been reimbursed -- said the city also did not take enough preventative measures after 2004 flooding.

City claims manager Dee Quiggle said that six or seven Madison Valley claims caused by December flooding have been settled, and that she would address claim questions on an individual basis.

A million-gallon water holding basin is already below ground at 30th Avenue East and East John Street, said Fitsum Aberra of Seattle Public Utilities. Officials also showed plans for four long-term drainage solutions, which they said could be completed as early as 2009.

Three of the alternatives -- which would either create larger holding basins under Madison Valley homes or pipe water to holding basins near Washington Park -- had costs estimated between $14 million and $25 million.

The most popular option with residents would create a storm-water pipeline with an outflow to Lake Washington.

That alternative could take up to five years and cost between $30 million and $80 million, said Linda De Boldt, representing Seattle Public Utilities.

The long-term plans would be evaluated on nine criteria points, including cost and performance, she said.

I just want to get my house back to the way it was before the storm, and want our decreased property values to be compensated," said Plunkett, who lives in the 400 block of 31st Avenue East. "That's what we've been asking for since December."

Soundoff (Read 1 comment)
What could the city do to improve storm problems in your area?