THOMPSON, Iowa - One homeowner and his tenants are now trying to figure out what to do next after water nearly washed out a house's foundation.
Philip Cerwinske was in the basement of his rental between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Sunday when water forced its way in. After heading upstairs, part of the downstairs walls caved in, leaving the house barely hanging on to parts of its foundation. Water got as high as 10 feet in the basement.
A crew has kept the house on two jacks to keep it from collapsing, but if one were to occur, they have been filling trailers with items from inside. In addition, part of the sidewalk leading to the front door and its steps fell in.
Homeowner Matthew Brown called his insurance agent Monday morning, but found out that his insurance will not cover the damage, and that's not sitting well with him.
"I just don't understand why we're mandatory to have house insurance when you can't use it. I'd be better off taking that money and stuffing it in my pocket if they're not gonna cover anything," he said.
His policy will not cover water damage due to the house not being located in a flood plain.
The status of what he wants to do next is unclear at this point.
"I don't know. I'm not a structural, house guy or basement guy, but it's pretty bad. There's gotta be four walls supporting it, and three of them are gone."
Those who were living in the house have been offered temporary housing.
