LEWISTON – Dozens of residents were driven from their homes Thursday when water poured into their apartments after heavy rains.

Residents said the early morning rains somehow backed up in the building’s drainage system and emptied into the apartments. In some cases, water poured into the apartments through light sockets.

About 19 families – about 43 people altogether – were driven from their apartments into the streets in the rain. The American Red Cross was making arrangements to set up shelter for those with no place to go.

Lewiston fire Capt. Larry Morin said he suspects that a substance used during recent construction work on the building somehow clogged up the drainage pipes that carry rainwater to storm-water drains.