KRESGEVILLE -- A family in Kresgeville that had their foundation collapse during a heavy rain storm now has to pay out of pocket for the thousands of dollars of damages.
This foundation collapse has become a nightmare for homeowner Kostantino Roussos of Kresgeville. Just last month, runoff from heavy rain flowed over an icy field. His concrete foundation crumbled and a foot of water filled the basement.
He called his homeowner’s insurance immediately.
"You think it's covering everything, it's like car insurance, you think you're covered for everything unless you cause the accident or something,” said Roussos.
Roussos shoveled out all of this dirt only to find out more bad news.
"I got the paperwork yesterday, it was denied, my claim was denied. And the adjuster I hired says there's really not much she can do for me,” said Roussos.
The Stroudsburg based insurance agent Mitchell Marcus tells us homeowner’s policies typically don’t cover foundation collapses due to the surface or sub-surface water.
"It's not meant to guarantee great construction; it's not something that the industry ever chooses to do. Like seepage through a wall,” said Mitchell Group Inc. President Mitchell Marcus.
Now Roussos faces about $30,000 in repairs.
While this concrete foundation is being put back together, the homeowner has the house covered in a tarp trying to stop any more water from getting in.
"Had I had known I mean there was nothing I could have done, there was really nothing I could have done to prevent it from happening. It's not something you expect your home to collapse like that,” said Roussos.
Insurance agents say in this case, flood insurance wouldn’t necessarily guarantee coverage either.
“Coverage is not always so straightforward, you've got to look at every policy exclusion,” said Marcus.
As he works to pick up the damage, Roussos says he hopes his situation will make others more aware of the limits of insurance coverage.
"No, never dreamed of this and fortunately, I have family and friends that are helping out,” said Roussos.