For more than two decades, Deatrice Waters built her life inside her Southeast Washington home — a place of comfort, memories, and stability. In early February, she woke up to find it transformed into a nightmare.
“The bed was floating when I woke up,” Waters told ABC 7 News.
The flooding followed a water main break near 51st Street and Southern Avenue SE, not far from the Marshall Heights neighborhood.
Nearly a dozen families were displaced after a DC Water pipe burst, sending water rushing into homes while residents slept.
Waters was among them.
“I Thought the World Was Going to End”
She remembers hearing her neighbors screaming outside before she understood what was happening.
“I heard people, my neighbors, screaming on the outside,” Waters said. “I thought the world was going to end.”
Water surged through her home so quickly that she said she had to use her floating refrigerator to help her escape. By the time she got out, the damage was already catastrophic.
“It took DC Water maybe six hours to come and shut the water off,” she said. “By the time they came, water was filled in everybody’s house all the way to the top of their stairs.”
Inside her home — once a safe haven — furniture, clothing, and decades of personal belongings were destroyed.
Families on the block now face orange danger signs posted on some front doors, warnings that the structures may not be safe to enter.
A Community Displaced
Waters’ story mirrors those of her neighbors. Some residents reported hearing a loud pop in the street days before the disaster unfolded. Others say they were left scrambling to save themselves as water poured in.
The only guidance residents say they’ve received so far is to file claims.
According to Waters, DC Water advised homeowners to work with their insurance carriers and submit claims through the agency’s process.
“I’ve been trying to be strong through this whole thing,” she said. “Because I know God’s got me and I have faith in God, but this has been hell for me.”
DC Water Response
In a statement, DC Water acknowledged the break and said it occurred following a snowstorm and more than a week of sub-freezing temperatures.
The utility explained that freeze-thaw cycles can weaken pipes due to expansion and contraction of materials, leading to wintertime breaks. It said crews were responding to multiple emergencies that day, some working up to 16-hour shifts, and noted that the damaged pipe was located under a sidewalk, requiring coordination with Miss Utility before excavation could begin.
“DC Water also proactively cleans and monitors water mains, performs routine maintenance, and is actively upgrading infrastructure across the city,” the agency said, adding that property damage claims are reviewed based on specific facts and applicable law.
Residents can file claims through DC Water’s standard claims process or seek relief through homeowners’ insurance.
Calls for Accountability
Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder said his office contacted DC Water and the Department of Buildings after learning of the flooding.
The Department of Buildings connected displaced renters with the Office of the Tenant Advocate for temporary hotel accommodations of up to two weeks. Homeowners, however, are navigating insurance claims and damage assessments on their own.
Felder’s office said it will press DC Water for updates during an upcoming council oversight hearing and seek clarity on response times and repair timelines.
As of Thursday, the utility had not provided a concrete timeline for repairs related to the 51st Street break.
A Home, Not Just a House
For Waters, the damage goes beyond soaked walls and ruined floors.
Her home represented more than property — it was 20 years of life.
Now, she faces uncertainty: insurance claims, possible repairs, and the emotional weight of starting over.
“I’ve been trying to be strong,” she repeated.
In Southeast D.C., what was once an ordinary winter night has become a turning point — and for Deatrice Waters, the road back to normal may be long and uncertain.
