2008 Flooding

It has only been 10 months since the flooding in August of 2007. Not long enough for many to repair, rebuild and restructure. Many farmers lost their crops last year. Then to turn around and lose them again this year. That is hard on a farmer. Depending on the farmers flood insurance, some policies state if you don't lose it all then the farmer doesn't get paid the full amount. Many farmers did not reapply for this year, due to not getting paid the full amount but paying an arm and a leg for the policy. The state is strapped for funds to give out to the different counties as they just helped 10 months ago. Gays Mills, which is about 45 minutes from our house, 10 minutes from my parents, is considered a disaster area. When it is that close it really hits home.

2008 floods have effected more then in 2007. As in 2007 it was dry and therefore took longer for the flooding part to start. This time we were already quite wet and didn't need this much rain. On Monday, June 9th, 91 roads in Vernon County (where we live) were closed to wash outs, water over the roads & bridges & damns that were concerns.

Going down memory lane...August 2007 I was attending my cousin, Jena & Adam's wedding. We were having a great time. We knew that it was raining outside but didn't realize the effects it was actually having outside. That night we stayed at my parents house. It took Harry over 3 hours to get from my parents house to ours. It usually should take, at that time, 45 minutes. Then he had quite the time taking alternative routes to get his milk picked up. He was not able to pick up all his milk and had to leave alot of milk. It took him days to finally get all the farms picked up.

I didn't want to have to travel with having a 2 month old with me, but knew that if I didn't go soon, I would be stuck at my parents as the Kickapoo River was inching towards the bridge on Hwy 14. I finally got the courage to go, to find out later that they closed the bridge an hour after I left. I would have been there for days if I had not went when I did.

I have added pictures of the surrounding areas of Richland Center, Viola & La Farge.