Ice Dam Damage Forces Family Out Of Home
St. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Ice dams have caused many problems this winter, but for one family the problems have been so bad they've been forced to move out of their home.
Geoff Haas and his family have lived in a house in the Macalester Groveland neighborhood in St. Paul for almost 10 years. But while crews work to repair their damaged home, they won't be able to live in it until early March.
The damage began to be a major problem last Christmas Eve, when icy water came pouring into Haas' 6-year-old daughter's bedroom.
"It's pretty alarming," said Haas, recalling that day. "Because it's Christmas Eve, you can't get a lot of companies to come out and do the steaming and roof clearing."
The damage from the ice dam was so bad, Haas, his wife and their two young children were forced to move out for several weeks, first to a hotel and then to an apartment.
"It's not life and death, of course, but it's not ideal," Haas said.
Most of the family's furniture and toys not damaged by water and ice have been taken away to a storage site where they will be kept while contractors restore and repair the house.
However, the Haas family is not alone this winter, as homes throughout the metro area have been going through the same experience with ice dam damage.
Miguel Duran, who worked on the Haas home, said he works on three new jobs a week.
Despite all the hassles, Haas was philosophical about the whole experience.
"I talked to my friend in New Jersey and he kind of said, 'Jeez, if the Metrodome roof can cave in, I guess it makes sense' – and that put it in some perspective," he said.
