Repeated flooding results in disruption and damage

MARINETTE COUNTY – In Northeast Wisconsin, April showers have brought more than May flowers. Repeated storms led to flood warnings as road culverts were washed away and bodies of water like the Peshtigo River rose and flooded the surrounding area in over three feet of water, according to the National Water Prediction Service.

This repeated ongoing flooding has impacted not only the environment, but the lives of those within these communities.

“The flooding is affecting my life personally and professionally,” explained Marinette County resident Tabitha Armbruster.

“Almost every single river in the state is over flood levels. There’s a lot of damage everywhere. As an insurance agent, we get a firsthand account of what’s going on with all of the pictures.”

However, Armbruster’s personal experience has highlighted just how families in rural areas are being affected by these weather conditions.

Armbruster shared that her family has been living in their home for nearly two decades and storm-related flooding has been a continuous issue.

“The people that lived around here before us, they also experienced these situations. I mean, the water is so high right now — it’s the highest we’ve ever seen it.”

This situation has brought forward increased property damage, including the family’s new side-by-side being “submerged” by water and her husband being unable to drive his truck due to the water rising above the grille.

While Armbruster is concerned about the property impacts, her attention has been focused on the human impacts.

“My daughter has medical issues… and you never know when you’re going to need some sort of emergency management when everything is impacted. They would literally have to fly in, a fire truck couldn’t get up here if they wanted. So, it’s just frustrating.”

She also spoke about a near-fatal accident that occurred near her and resulted in emergency services being called, “The water just rose a lot higher than what was anticipated. So, the person that was traveling up and down the road didn’t realize how much higher the water had gotten. They were in a UTV and the floodwaters literally just lifted up the UTV, flipped it on its driver’s side and it sank six feet underwater. Had she not been quick enough to kick the passenger door open, she would have drowned.”

According to Armbruster, “It took a near-fatal experience to get the county to even call an engineer.”

Since her home sits at the end of a county road where jurisdiction is split in half between the Town of Lake and the Town of Porterfield, she said that progress to fix the road and prevent incidents like this has been slow moving due to conversations regarding where the financial responsibilities lie, she shared.

“[The towns] came out to flag the property, but that was four years ago. Now look at where we’re at,” Armbruster said.

While these flooding impacts will be felt for a long time, Armbrusters hope that action can be taken to prevent another situation like this from happening.

She shared that Town of Lake Town Board Chairman Cory Sotka has been helpful by remaining in contact with her family, noting that “he has always been very communicative and pushing to try and get something done.”

Going forward, Armbruster said “I would like to see the county at least consider raising the road and [seeing if] they need to put more culverts in.”

She hopes that these changes will come sooner rather than later as communication with both towns have increased and have involved an engineer.

“This is just showing that they’re actually going to hopefully do something about it this time.”

While the severity of flooding can greatly vary based on individual circumstances, Marinette County Emergency Management Coordinator Jessica Demler explained that “flood preparedness and emergency management involve[s] ongoing monitoring of weather and water conditions, coordination with partner agencies and readiness to activate response plans as needed.”

Demler added, “If you live in an area that typically experiences flooding during the spring thaw, you are encouraged to take advance steps to protect your home and personal safety. Taking reasonable mitigation measures ahead of time can help lessen the effects of rising water levels.”

Additional information about preparing for and cleaning up after floods can be found online at www.marinettecountywi.gov under the emergency management department tab.