3 On Your Side Helps Solve Bat Problem
CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) - A disabled Chester County woman was living in fear. Bats had invaded her apartment complex and a neighbor was even bitten by one of them!
The management didn't jump to fix the problem. That is until 3 On Your Side and our Jim Osman got involved.
Every day life is already a struggle for Amber Roark.
"I have cerebral palsy, which is a neuromuscular disorder, and I have a service dog which helps me walking," explained Amber.
But even with her dog Quincy at her side, walking the halls of her Chester County public housing apartment complex frightened the 22-year-old woman.
"I was going around to the elevator and the bat was flying towards me," said Amber.
That's right, Amber said a bat.
And bats were becoming a common sighting for residents of the Oxford Terrace Apartments.
"It's 13 to 15 bats in two and a half months. That's ridiculous," said Oxford Terrace resident Deb Charles.
The bat problem started in June.
During the summer, a bat bit one resident in her bedroom and as a result, the tenant had to get rabies shots.
Amber too had to have a series of rabies shots after she came into contact with a bat in her living room.
"It was on the floor when I had it with the tongs. It spread its wings and I had to actually touch it to get it out of my apartment," said Amber.
Amber's physician recommended that her carpet either be replaced or sanitized fearing the bat's saliva left behind on the rug could present even more potential medical problems for Amber.
But there was no manager working at Oxford Terrace at the time. And the county's housing authority didn't respond to Amber's calls.
"Do they not care because we are low income? That we are disabled? That we don't have a voice," Amber asked.
That's when we contacted Dale Gravett, who is the new head of the Chester County Housing Authority.
Gravett had only been on the job for a few days and was surprised by the response from the previous management.
We asked Gravett why it took so long for the residents to get action.
"I've explored that and I was upset that it took awhile," said Gravett. "There should have been a response that took place within days."
Amber couldn't get help until we called the housing authority.
"That's unacceptable and will not happen again," said Gravett.
The housing authority hired a professional carpet cleaner to sanitize the rug.
"It makes me feel really happy now that someone is listening and that they are taking action," she said.
And for Amber who didn't think her voice was being heard, that too has changed.
"We've talked about other problems that need to be fixed and I'm hoping that Amber will get involved in the resident council here in the building and help with some of the other problems," said Gravett.
Amber can also bring her concerns to an on-site manager now working at the apartment complex.
As for the bat problem, a pest control company was called in to address the issue and to plug any holes that allow bats to enter.
There have been no additional bat sightings.
