A Long Island family who thought they'd escaped the worst of Sandy damage to their home say they've been blindsided by a sudden invasion of rats.
The Panzas have lived in their Bellmore house for 10 years, and flooding damage was minimal after Sandy. But last month, they started seeing evidence of rat attacks, some estimated to be as long as foot and as heavy as a pound, according to their exterminator.?
There are rat droppings and holes burrowed in the walls throughout the Panza home, and a contractor discovered what he said was a rat nest in the home's attic.?
"It's nice and warm, this is the perfect habitat for them," said contractor Anthony Pomponio, as he shined a light on one rat hole in the attic.?
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More Photos and VideosNBC 4 New York spotted rat prints in powder sprinkled near the family's garage door, along with candy wrappers that homeowner Chris Panza said were carried in by the rodents.
The rats have been so invasive that?Panza's wife and children have moved out.
"Your kids are playing on the floor, playing video games, and to think there are rats within two feet of them. I want them out of here," said homeowner Chris Panza.
Panza only started noticing the rat trails last month, when he discovered that one of his couches was being eaten away. But contractor Dave Hall, who also inspected the home, believes it's a result of Sandy, saying that when the floodwater reached the steps of the Panza home, it drove the rats inside from neighboring sewer pipes, according to Hall.?
"Once they got in here, they realized it's nice and warm and there's food, and they decided to stay," said Hall.?
Panza's exterminator, Orkin, estimated there were up to 14 rats in the home.So far, the rats have eluded capture, even stealing salami and other treats left on traps in nearly every corner of the house.
"They are crafty creatures," said Panza.
What the Panza family can't escape is the prognosis that in order to get rid of the rats, workers must tear down nearly every wall in the home, at a cost of up to $50,000.?
Panza is hoping his federal flood insurance will pay for the work but a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute said that's far from a certainty.
"My big fear is, we'll do all this work and we won't get them all," Panza said.?
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