Story originally printed in the Holmen Courier or online at www.holmencourier.com
Published - Wednesday, June 18, 2008
FLOOD OF '08: When waters recede, all kinds of repairs are needed
VIOLA — Bill Bender knew it was time to abandon his business when the flood waters inside his convenience store reached the top of his boots.
It was less clear when he should return or what he would find when he did.
This village of 700 people in southwestern Wisconsin, now several days into its cleanup effort, is learning a lot about bouncing back from a disaster.
It is a little ahead of other flood-damaged areas, having been spared a second round of flooding when a predicted downpour on Thursday unexpectedly bypassed it.
It is facing issues that will become common in many communities in the days ahead, from disposing of sandbags to repairing relationships damaged by the need for forced evacuations.
Viola has another advantage in the cleanup department, though a hard-earned one. Three years ago, it was broadsided by a tornado. Last August, it was socked by a flood, though a less-serious one.
"We're kind of accustomed to this now," said John Gannon, who is overseeing Viola's volunteer coordination effort.
The village, about 75 miles northwest of Madison, straddles Richland and Vernon counties. The Kickapoo River, the source of its current problems, flows through its middle.
The river crested seven feet above flood stage a week ago Sunday, filling about a quarter of the village with water and covering the downtown completely.
Twelve people had to be evacuated by boat, with the Viola Area Volunteer Fire Department's dive rescue team stepping in to assist one rural family.
The evacuation was at first voluntary but turned mandatory in some areas when it became apparent that people were jeopardizing their safety and the safety of firefighters, said Jeff Liska, head of emergency government.
Four of the 12 people evacuated by boat put up strong resistance, he said.
Liska said he has known those people for years.
He remains torn about the decision and unsure about the village's legal standing in such cases.
"I usually fall on the side of personal rights, but what I believe personally and what I have to do publicly are sometimes different," he said.
No one was seriously injured in the evacuation, an outcome firefighters took comfort in.
As residents returned to their businesses and homes, they found slimy, stubborn mud coating everything — a remnant of flood waters laced with raw sewage, field fertilizer and animal waste.
"We've mopped and scrubbed and scrubbed and remopped," said Bender, 67, owner of the Viola Quik Stop.
His store ended up with 26 inches of water in it. It reopened Friday.
A preliminary estimate shows 200 homes damaged by water, said Beth Campbell, village clerk/treasurer. One house is a total loss, another had a basement wall collapse. The 10-unit Ridgeview Commons apartment building will be uninhabitable for six to eight weeks, she said.
Twelve of the village's 16 businesses report flood damage, Campbell said.
One of those is My Hideaway, a bar and banquet hall owned by Liz Tyo.
"It was pretty much destroyed," she said. "It's nothing but a mud hole."
Tyo said she does not expect to reopen the business. A second business she owns in Viola, L&J's Pub, is awaiting a health department inspection to reopen.
For village taxpayers, a disaster of this level brings considerable uncertainty.
The 2005 tornado caused $1.5 million in damages to Viola, yet the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied aid to Richland and Vernon counties — a huge blow to the village. The state later stepped in with a $600,000 grant for Viola.
The village learned an important lesson during that go-round, Campbell said. All volunteer work hours should be precisely documented because government aid, whether federal or state, usually comes with a matching component, she said.
"Those volunteer hours count toward the match so that you don't have to take it out of the taxpayer's pocket," she said.
The village is facing big costs this time, too. It spent about $26,000 last week for a large water pump, said Fire Chief Dan Baker.
Fuel costs to run pumps and operate fire trucks are high, and the village's streets and park will need repairs, Baker said.
Despite enduring three disasters in three years, Elnora Nicks, 78, said she's staying put.
"I would never consider moving away," said Nicks, who had water in her living room and lost her refrigerator. "That's my home. Where would I go?"
All stories copyright 2006 Holmen Courier and other attributed sources.