Detroit water main break leaves 300 families homeless, vehicles frozen in chaos

A major water main break in Southwest Detroitearly Monday, February 17, left hundreds of residents stranded in freezing conditions.

The break occurred around 3:30 a.m. when a 54-inch steel pipe, originally built in the 1930s, burst near 1020 Beard Street and North Green Street, close to Interstate 75.

Authorities suspect a combination of aging infrastructure and extreme cold caused the break. Detroit experienced temperatures as low as 1.4°F (-17°C), with wind chills dropping even further.

Within hours, streets were submerged under nearly five feet of water, forcing emergency rescues via boats. A total of 94 people, including 63 adults and 31 children, were evacuated from flooded homes. Due to heavy snow and ice, crews faced significant delays in locating the shut-off valves, officials said.

Nearly 300 residents were relocated to hotel rooms provided by the city after their homes were left uninhabitable due to flooded basements and broken furnaces. However, many opted to stay with friends or family instead.