Cellphone video captured the moment high waters forced a young mother to escape from a window during Monday’s heavy rainfall in Cobb County.
The mother, who’d given birth the day before, told Channel 2’s Audrey Washington that she and her newborn son now have nowhere to call home.
"I have no clothes for my child, because that's all soiled and damaged," said Yudelka Salcedo.
During Monday's downpour, water rushed through Salcedo’s duplex in Smyrna while she and her 1-day-old baby, Kenton, slept.
"I had no idea until I got off the bed and my feet were in knee-high waters," she told Washington.
Salcedo immediately went to the window, where neighbors helped baby Kenton and then Salcedo out the window.
She says she got out her duplex with just a few items she could grab quickly. She's now staying with a friend while she tries to work things out with her landlord.
"He's saying that the city is responsible for the damages because of a sewage block,” Salcedo said.
Washington called the property manager, Mike Maldonado, for answers. He did not want to comment on camera, but off camera he said he's working to get the situation rectified. He said he could not determine how long it would take.
Maldonado says that the duplex has flooded in the past, but that the drainage issue lies with the city.
Salcedo says all she wants is a safe place to live.
"I shouldn't have to be dealing with this,” she said.
If you would like to help Salcedo, you can email her at Caliyudie@gmail.com.
