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Recovery efforts underway

Flood victims assess damage, begin arduous cleanup process

Flood waters are slowly receding around the villages of Gays Mills and Soldiers Grove, but uncertain danger from two dams upstream in Vernon County left rescue crews exercising caution Tuesday.

"We had a very serious, unprecedented disaster starting early Sunday morning," said Crawford County Public Information Officer Gary Knickerbocker, who noted that the two dams were holding large "ponds" of water following Sunday's record-setting flood. Knickerbocker said that emergency personnel continued to be on high alert Tuesday because several dams on the Kickapoo River are listed as being in a "critical status" and two-inches of rain was predicted for Tuesday night.

Knickerbocker, who spoke about the flood at the Crawford County Board meeting Tuesday morning, said that the water was approximately four feet high in the streets of Gays Mills Monday, but that it had gone down to about two feet by Tuesday. "Half of Main Street is now clear," he said.

"The good news is that there were no fatalities, no serious injuries and nobody missing," said Knickerbocker, who asked those at the board meeting to support the people affected by the flood, including residents Gays Mills, Soldiers Grove and Steuben.

The flood caused initial estimates of $14 million in damage in Crawford County, including homes, businesses, farmland and crops. About $7 million is damage caused to homes and businesses. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of Crawford County's crops were destroyed and another 30 percent were damaged. The heavy rain that fell Saturday night and early Sunday morning caused flooding that damaged more than 200 homes and 50 businesses. Also, numerous roads in the county were damaged and remain closed.

Electricity and gas service is out to most of Gays Mills. Madison Gas and Electric had about 500 natural gas customers shut off in Gays Mills, Seneca, Mount Sterling and Bell Center. The gas system runs through Gays Mills to the other communities. The gas service was fully restored in Seneca, Mount Sterling and Bell Center by Tuesday.

"Our crews will have to wait until the waters recede in Gays Mills before restoring the gas service," said Steve Kraus, media relations manager. Kraus said that it would be a while before gas service would be restored to Gays Mills.

"We have an awful lot of damage," said Knickerbocker.

Knickerbocker estimated that residents will be able to return to their homes this upcoming weekend. He said, however, that it may take citizens several weeks to clean and repair their homes to make them habitable. Some homes, he said, may be a total loss.

Knickerbocker said that residents concerned about their homes or businesses, can call (608) 326-0266. Those wishing to volunteer in the clean up effort can also call this number, which will be manned from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Knickerbocker said that one of the first things he saw upon arriving in Gays Mills in the early hours of Sunday was a firefighter carrying a woman into the fire station. "She was an elderly lady, she was all wet and she was sick," he said. "I thought, my God, what a scene."

Soon afterward, Knicker-bocker said that firefighters brought a mother and her six children into the fire station, which became a temporary safety shelter for more than 66 people, most of whom had been evacuated from a nearby nursing home.

"The first day (Sunday), was a rescue operation," said Knickerbocker. "Having first received notice around midnight, the firefighters were out pounding on people's doors, getting them up and to the fire department for safety."

Knickerbocker praised the efforts of all county departments and emergency personnel who helped in with rescue and recovery efforts. He also noted that Grant County emergency personnel worked for 24 straight hours to aid the flood victims.

In his role as Public Information Officer, Knickerbocker is the media liaison, and along with local newspapers, radio and television, he also dealt with national media including the New York Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and others. "The media was very helpful and respectful and not the least bit pushy," he said.

Knickerbocker and Sheriff Jerry Moran praised the efforts of the Southwestern Regional Technical Rescue Team, who escorted residents back to their homes to collect pets and critical items. The team was on high alert, keeping in contact with Vernon County, which had dams under heavy strain. "They did a great job for us," said Knickerbocker. "We've got people up there who are suffering."

"What a tragedy for Crawford County," said Moran, who was forced to order the evacuation of a nursing home and Golden Acres Apartments when several culverts became clogged and water began to cover the roadway. Nursing home personnel resisted at first, but Moran determined that there was imminent danger and ordered the evacuation. It took about 2.5 hours in the pouring rain to get the 66 residents, most of whom where in wheelchairs to the safety of the American Legion Hall. The Legion Hall lights went out and the people there were then taken to the Gays Mills Fire Station.

Moran said that the nursing home and the apartment building were still unoccupied as of Tuesday morning.

"Gays Mills was worse than in 1978," said Moran. "Soldiers Grove was about the same as in ï78."

Knickerbocker said that 1978 was the last time that the area saw major flooding. After the 1978 flood, flood dikes were built in the area and much of Soldiers Grove was moved to higher ground.

"The flood dikes were breached in this flood," said Knickerbocker. The Kickapoo River crested at 17 feet, which is five feet above flood stage.

Crawford County Nurse Gloria Wall informed the board that there are ongoing issues with well waters. She said that people should clean their wells first, then sample them and turn the samples in.

Wall said that tetanus shots and immunizations are proceeding well and that all of Crawford County's emergency personnel had tetanus shots ahead of time. She also said that the Red Cross continues to serve the area and its victims. The Red Cross has opened a shelter at North Crawford High School outside of Gays Mills.

Governor Jim Doyle and Congressmen Ron Kind toured Crawford County and observed the damage. Crawford County Chairman Ron Leys has declared the county to be in a state of emergency and has requested assistance from neighboring communities, the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"FEMA will be here by Tuesday or Wednesday," said Leys, who along with board member Larry Kapinus urged people to document everything with photographs. Gloria Wall urged all victims to make sure that they fill out a residential damage report assessment form. Flood water will recede on the Kickapoo River this weekend. FEMA will be conducting a preliminary damage assessment in Crawford County early next week."This has been a difficult couple of days for Crawford County," said Leys, who noted that the county's departments, along with Wisconsin State Troopers, Grant County personnel and volunteers are doing a terrific job.

"She looked like a bookie placing horse bets," said Leys about County Nurse Gloria Wall, who relentlessly worked the phones in order to find places to stay for the people housed in the Gays Mills Fire Station.

Knickerbocker said that 22 State Troopers helped out by setting up road blocks. He also noted that the National Guard has helped in the clean-up effort. "They are providing heavy equipment to help out the Highway Department," he said. "We've had a lot of support from the National Guard."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, has also given assistance. The Corps provided two water pumps to Soldiers Grove. To assist with moving water out of the area as quickly as possible, the district has also opened the gates on its Mississippi River locks and dams.

Man found dead in flooded basement

The Allamakee County Sheriff's office received a 911 call from 712 Yellow River Drive for a man unconscious in the basement full of water. The victim was identified as 56-year old Bradly John Brainard of Postville.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical examiner. Cause of death is still under investigation. No foul play was suspected.

County hears more on large animal operation

A proposed confined large animal operation, membership on a committee to develop a comprehensive plan and an open door policy for county buildings were the main subjects of discussion at the Aug. 21 meeting of the Crawford County Board of Supervisors.

Edie Ehlert, coordinator of the Crawford Stewardship Project, expressed the group's concerns about a proposed confined large animal operation. She said research shows that such businesses cause problems because of air and water pollution from animal waste. Property values decline and health risks increase, she said.

Ehlert commended board members for passing an animal siting ordinance, but said it fell short given the geology and topography of the area. She requested that a karst geological study be done and that a one year moratorium be declared.

Howard Roth, who owns a farm along Hwy 60 between Boscobel and Wauzeka, and who is planning the large scale operation, said he had no problems with further studies being done, but he did have a problem with a moratorium because it would delay his expansion plans. He also said that, since state law is set up so that the county could deny his permit only for proven health or environmental risks, he was sure that a lawsuit would follow. Roth said he plans to follow all the regulations and intends to submit his application Monday.

County Board Chairman Ron Leys said he had just received a report from a northeast Wisconsin karst task force. Their report, Leys said, showed widespread well contamination. Leys said he gave a report to extension agent Vance Haugen, who discussed it with Discovery Farms System, which is interested in doing a similar study in this part of the state. Leys said he would do more investigation and have a report for the next board meeting.

An ordinance to increase the size of a committee which would develop a comprehensive plan for the county was approved after a discussion of additional costs and the relationship between the county comprehensive plan and individual township plans. The county plan is separate from any township plan. The board also approved the addition of three new members: Tom Cornford, Harriet Behar and Don Daentl.

County Attorney Mark Peterson reported on his investigation of a proposed open door policy for county offices, and whether or not that policy should apply to the district attorney's office. Peterson said that office is not considered a county position and it was his opinion that, due to issues of confidentiality, the doors to that office should not be open. Said County Attorney Tim Baxter, "The office is completely accessible; you just have to turn the knob to get in." No further action was taken.

In other business:

Sheriff Jerry Moran presented a proposal for a community resource officer to visit the schools. He estimated it would cost $16,374 to put a resource officer in each school for four hours a week. He said he has received a $7,500 grant from the Children's Advisory Board at the Law Enforcement Center and that North Crawford and Seneca school district had also made a financial commitment. He has yet to meet with other districts in the county. Sheriff Moran requested $5,000 in county funds for the project. The proposal was referred to the finance committee.

County Fair income is up about $6,000 over last year on gate and grandstand receipts and beer sales are expected to add another $2,000. A final report is not yet completed.