This Florida family's home was 'destroyed' after it was flooded with sewage following Pasco County mistake. Here's why the homeowner says the county's solution was 'not enough'

A horrific experience

There's a big difference between water damage in your home and sewer damage.

Water damage, if not treated promptly, could cause mold to form, among other things. But sewer damage is a whole different beast. When sewage gets into your home, it exposes you to a host of bacteria and parasites that could potentially cause different illnesses.

Think about it this way. If the idea of taking a bath in the pipes your toilet feeds sounds disturbing to you, then you don't want a sewage backup in your home.

But unfortunately, that’s what happened to Odrzywolski. Pasco County was working on a sewer line in the area when sewage accidentally backed up into his and his wife's home due to an error on their part.

The county tried to make it right. But Odrzywolski says, "It's way not enough.”

County officials immediately hired a local cleaning company for $2,400 to perform the initial clean-up on Odrzywolski’s home the day of the incident. The county is offering Odrzywolski another $26,000 for further remediation plus $5,000 for incidentals.

Plus, the county says it will consider providing additional compensation if the contractor hired to fix the problem finds that the initial estimate won't cover all of the necessary expenses to restore Odrzywolski's home to its former state.

But Odrzywolski is doubtful the country’s offer will address the problem in full. He’s being quoted $16,000 just for necessary demolition work.

“Imagine, put everything back, the cabinets, flooring, all that for another $14,000? That's impossible," he said.

In the meantime, Odrzywolski and his wife will be sleeping on their back patio until the situation is resolved, since they don't feel safe in their home. It seems as though the county did not offer them temporary lodging while the remediation work is being done. It’s unclear as to whether their homeowners insurance policy offers this benefit, or what their homeowners coverage looks like.

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What to do if your home sustains damage through no fault of your own

Hopefully, you'll never have to go through the same experience Odrzywolski did. But accidents can happen. And you could end up with property damage for a variety of reasons -- a county construction vehicle could crash into a tree that hits your home, for example.

In a scenario like this, it's important to address the situation methodically. First, assess the situation. If your home has sustained damage in a way that makes it unsafe, leave as quickly as possible. This was the case for Odrzywolski, and it may be the case if your home has sustained structural damage.

If you don't have to flee, try to document the damage with photos. Also note the time of the incident and put any details you remember in writing.

Having your home get extensively damaged can constitute a shock. And your brain may not remember the details beyond the initial few minutes after the incident. So try to create a record of what occurred.

From there, there are some key people to call. First, you may want to notify local police. If it's a situation where a county team of workers causes damage to your home and they acknowledge it right away, they might call the police themselves.

Next, call your homeowners insurance company and have them come out to assess the situation. You'll probably need to file a claim, even if it turns out you're entitled to be compensated for the damage from someone else. Your insurance company can help figure out who will pay for what.

Also, try to figure out if your home is habitable following the damage, or if you'll need temporary housing. If it's the latter situation, see if your insurance covers it. If not, you may want to ask for it as part of your compensation.

You may also want to contact a lawyer to discuss the situation and see if there's legal recourse beyond an offer to repair the damage. For example, if there's emotional distress to consider. Being displaced from your home could have other consequences.

If you work from home as an independent contractor, for example, and are forced to live in a hotel for several weeks while your property is being repaired, it could interfere with your ability to earn an income. That's something you should potentially ask to be compensated for.

It's also important to keep in mind that in some cases, property damage may be such that no amount of repair can restore your home to its original value. That's something to document, too, so you can try to receive compensation.

Finally, retain receipts for all expenses you incur in the course of dealing with the damage. In a situation like the one above, it’s hard enough having to deal with the aftermath. You shouldn’t have to be out money because of someone else’s negligence. And if you find that you’re not being made whole, that’s where a lawyer comes in.