Kingston woman’s house flooded with raw sewage, says city won’t help
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Posted: 6:45 PM May 11, 2009
Kingston woman’s house flooded with raw sewage, says city won’t help
KINGSTON, OK -- It's stuff that's only supposed to be found in a toilet, but for Vera Lytle it flooded her entire house. Less than two weeks ago, Lytle says raw sewage at least three inches deep overtook her home after a sewage pipe in front of her house broke. Now she's left with the mess, and she says the city isn't helping. Shelby Levins has more.
Reporter: Shelby Levins
Email Address: shelby.levins@kxii.com
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KINGSTON, OK -- Last summer we told you about a Marshall County home that flooded with hundreds of gallons of raw sewage. Less than a year later another resident is cleaning up after a similar, smelly mess. Shelby Levins has more.

It's stuff that's only supposed to be found in a toilet, but for Vera Lytle it flooded her entire house. Less than two weeks ago, Lytle says raw sewage at least three inches deep overtook her home after a sewage pipe in front of her house broke. Now she's left with the mess, and she says the city isn't helping.

“Absolute total hell for son and my little Pomeranian,” Lytle says.

After living in Kingston for 32 years, Vera Lytle’s chores are still the same, but not much else is. What used to be a fully carpeted and furnished home is now just a barren house with cement floors for the widower.

“Not only did I have my sewage in here, I had the whole neighborhood's in my house, on my carpet, in all the bedroom, the hallway, my refrigerator was standing in it, and yet they've declined the claim because of a pair of panties,” she says.

The city's insurance adjuster told Lytle a pair of women's underwear caused the backup and the consequential damage.

“People should be aware that if you live in Kingston, Oklahoma, and you have sewage problems you are on your own. Not one city official has been to my house.”

So we went to city hall to talk to Leonard Nail, the water and sewage supervisor for the City of Kingston, but were told he wasn't in today.

Lytle says she still living in chaos and doesn't understand why the city won’t help.

“If some lady down the street accidently dropped her panties in the commode, and it caused all the sewage back up in my house, how can they not be responsible? It's still the sewage line that backed up and broke.”

Lytle says it's her sons, and her Pomeranian that have gotten her through this far, but as a cancer survivor, she says can't handle the additional bacteria exposure, and on a fixed income she can't pay for the damage, especially she says since she’s not to blame.

“My sewer line was clear from my house to the street. I did absolutely nothing wrong. I just want the city of Kingston and their insurance company to accept the liability and replace what needs to be replaced and help me out.”

The City of Kingston tells us their insurance provider is Travelers, but again both the sewage and water supervisor along with the mayor were unavailable for comment Monday.


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