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LEADING THE WAY. MIKE: SICK FROM SEWAGE. TONIGHT HEALTH OFFICIALS WARNING ABOUT LINGERING DANGERS FROM FLOODING, EVEN AS WE DRY OUT. GOOD EVENING. I'M MIKE DARDIS. SHEREE: AND I’M SHEREE PAOLELLO. TONIGHT WLWT NEWS 5’S HELENA BATTIPAGLIA SPOKE TO ONE WOMAN. SHE IS NOW ON MEDICATION BECAUSE OF CONTAMINATED WATER IN HER BASEMENT. HELENA? HELENA: THAT IS RIGHT. SHE BIDS -- SHE LIVES RIGHT HERE ON EUCLID AVENUE. ITEMS THAT WERE DRENCHED IN SEWER WATER IS NOW A PILE OF GARBAGE ON THE SIDEWALK. THIS IS A DECADES-OLD ISSUE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT HANDLE THE LARGE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT WE EXPERIENCE LAST WEEK. RESIDENTS SAY THAT THEY ARE PAYING THE PRICE. KIME ECKMAN HAS SPENT THE LAST WEEK EMPTYING PILES OF WATER DAMAGED ITEMS FROM HER HOME, AND IT’S TAKING ITS TOLL. >> I’VE GOT STUFF GOING ON IN MY CHEST BECAUSE I’VE BEEN SPENDING LIKE 9 DAYS DOWN THERE IN THE RAW SEWAGE, CLEANING UP. HELENA: RAINWATER AND SEWAGE MADE ITS WAY INTO HER BASEMENT DURING LAST WEEK’S STORMS. NOW, SHE SAYS SHE’S BATTLING A RESPIRATORY INFECTION AND TAKING SEVERAL MEDICATIONS. >> ONE IS A BREATHER INHALER, THERE’S ONE I KNOW IS A STEROID. HELENA: THE ONE PLACE SHE ISN’T SUPPOSED TO BE IS THE ONE SHE CANNOT AVOID. STRONG SMELLS OF FECES AND WASTEWATER STILL LINGER. >> IN ORDER FOR THEM TO COME AND TREAT, I HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING OUT AND I’M STILL NOT EVEN HALF WAY THERE YET. HELENA: THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PUT OUT A NUMBER OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. SOME INCLUDE WEARING GLOVES AND MASKS, OPENING DOORS AND WINDOWS, SCRUBBING SURFACES WITH DETERGENT AND TOSSING FLOOD SOAKED ITEMS THAT CAN’T BE CLEANED. >> JUST BECAUSE POTENTIALLY FLOOD WATER COULD HAVE BACTERIA, VIRUSES, PARASITES AND IT. -- IN IT. HELENA: STEVE DIVINE SAYS THIS HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING ISSUE FOR MANY IN THE COVINGTON AREA. >> WE STILL HAVE SOME OLDER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE COMBINED SEWERS WHERE, IF WE HAVE A LOT OF WATER, FROM THE RAIN COMING DOWN YOU COULD GET SEWER AND STORM WATER MIXED IN IT AND THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM. HELENA: SOME NEIGHBORS ARE SICK OF IT. CATHY REECE TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO HAND OUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S FLYERS BECAUSE MANY ON EUCLID AVENUE DIDN’T KNOW. >> MAYBE IT WAS ON THEIR INTERNET SITE BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE DON’T HAVE INTERNET, SO HOW WERE WE TO KNOW THAT? HELENA: THOSE WHO FEEL ILL SHOULD CONTACT THEIR DOCTOR IMMEDITELY. AND FLOOD VICTIMS WHO HAVEN’T BEEN VACCINATED FOR HEPATITIS A SHOULD LOOK INTO DOING SO, ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HELENA: NOW WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY THEY TELL US THEY’VE BEEN HEARING THE PUBLIC’S CONCERNS AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED THE CITY FOR ASSISTANCE IN CLEANING OUT THEIR HOMES, BUT THAT ISN’T SOMETHING OFFICIALS ARE ABLE TO PROVID SHEREE: OFFICIALS WITH S.D.-1, WHICH MANAGES THE SEWER SYSTEMS IN THAT AREA, TELL US THEY’RE LOOKING INTO BUILDING NEW DETENTION PONDS, AND THEY’RE WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO INSTALL BACKUP SYSTEMS TO HOPEFULLY LIMIT TH

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