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Crawford County reports $4.9 million in damages so far from heavy rain and flooding

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By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Wisconsin Emergency Management Operations Center has reported preliminary damage figures as of Sept. 29 for damages sustained by Crawford and 11 other counties in the heavy rains of Sept. 21 and Sept. 22.

The damages reported so far for are preliminary, stressed Crawford County Emergency Government Director Jim Hackett, who noted that it will be awhile yet before all damages in the county are known. The dollar amounts for damages will likely end up being significantly higher than what has been reported so far.

Hackett said the county reports damage estimates to the Wisconsin Emergency Management Operations Center, who in turn, reports the figures to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for possible funds to help pay for the cost of repairs to bridges, roads, businesses, homes, and other damages.

According to the latest update, Crawford County has reported that there were 55 homes or businesses that were affected or had minor damage. There were 12 that had major damage and 2 that were destroyed. The total amount of damage for businesses or homes is estimated at $1,475,250.

The estimated amount of damage to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and trails in Crawford County is $3,463,950 so far.

The total for the 12 counties for damage to homes or businesses included 450 homes or businesses that were affected or had minor damage. There were 65 that had major damage, and 49 that were destroyed. The 49 that were destroyed included 48 homes and 1 business. The total cost is estimated at $7,031,950.

The total amount for damage to public infrastructure in all 12 counties so far is estimated at $13,968,622. The total amount for businesses and homes plus the amount for public infrastructure is $21,000,572. The 12 counties that have reported preliminary damages are Adams, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Vernon and Wood.

Because Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency statewide, the state has to reach $8.5 million in damages to become eligible for FEMA funding. Hackett said that people should take photographs of their damages before cleaning them up. Photos can be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Department or emailed to jhackett@crawfordcountywi.org.

County assessment teams are continuing to survey damage to public infrastructure and submitting to the Wisconsin Emergency Management the preliminary cost estimates to repair that damage.

In addition to gathering and reporting damage estimates, the Crawford County Emergency Management Office and Sheriff Dale McCullick have requested Team Rubicon for assistance in flood cleanup.  

This team may help muck out basements and clean damages to residences that were affected by the storm. They will focus on homes that were affected but may not be able to assist with exterior needs of residences.  

To contact a coordinator for dispatch of the team, please call 612-568-4660. The team has been stationed at the Vernon County Fair Grounds since Oct. 1.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports Highway 131 remains closed from County S to County U (Readstown to Viola) for roadway embankment failure. In addition, many county and town roads remain closed as water continues to recede. Motorists are reminded to use caution, obey barricades and to not travel through standing water.

The State Emergency Operations Center is at Level 5 with Wisconsin Emergency Management’s 24-hour duty officer and senior duty officer monitoring events.

Due to heavy rain on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22, there was a train derailment with no injuries, widespread damage and two fatalities in Southwestern Wisconsin. On man died when his house slid down the bluff and crashed onto Highway 35 near Victory. Another man drowned after becoming trapped in his vehicle while attempting to drive through water over the road in the town of Viroqua.

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