watseka flood '08

WGFA radio flood pics

2008-02-01T06:55:00.000-06:00

Though the local radio station was an island, somehow they were able to continue broadcasting and take the pictures found here: WGFA radio's flickr photos =>>>>>

aerial shots

2008-01-31T14:20:00.000-06:00

^McDonalds under water... the golden arches high and dry.

more pics from Fox news=>>>>>

aerial video courtesy of the timesrepublic

2008-01-30T08:14:00.000-06:00

You will see our backyard and garage in the crosshairs at 14:10.

This footage, filmed at 1:30pm, gives only a basic idea of the extent of the flood; by the next morning the water around our house had risen almost two more feet!

the timesrepublic=>>>>>

photos from city of Watseka's web page

2008-01-25T13:30:00.001-06:00

http://www.watseka.org/flood2008.htm =>>>>>

update on Thursday, Jan 10

2008-01-12T10:11:00.000-06:00

In east-central Illinois, days of springlike weather that brought heavy rainfall and melting snow caused severe flooding that forced hundreds of people to evacuate.

Floodwaters were as deep as 6 feet in Watseka, where residents left about 235 homes. Fire Chief David Mayotte said officials used a dozen boats to rescue about 535 residents, plus 75 pets, starting shortly after midnight Wednesday and continuing Thursday morning.

www.cantonrep.com

over 400 homes affected

2008-01-11T09:55:00.000-06:00

Watseka Fire Chief Dave Mayotte commended not only his firefighters, but all the other departments who have helped out in the severe flooding Watseka has experienced.

"We know of over 400 homes affected by water that we either evacuated or tagged," Mayotte said last night.

www.watsekatimesrepublic.com

Five Days Later

2008-01-10T10:59:00.002-06:00

I regret not taking our camera nor having highwaders to get to our house and record the flood at its peak,
so these are the earliest pictures that I took.
four pictures of our home =>>>>>

FEMA underestimates damage

2008-01-09T14:13:00.004-06:00

"FEMA completed their assessment of Watseka and Iroquois County on Jan. 17, and commented that the damage was far greater than they had been led to believe," former mayor and alderman Ted Horner said.
"Most of the homes inspected at the time were under water and damage was estimated. Very few homes were actually entered for a definitive assessment. This windshield assessment was the basis for the FEMA report of 150 damages homes, 64 of which were substantially damaged.
"An inspection of the damaged homes has been in progress from the onset by Watseka personnel,
two hundred and ninety-nine homes have been identified and inspected revealing 199 homes with substantial damage, and these numbers continue to rise as the assessment process continues.
"The devastation in this community of 5,600 people is beyond comprehension," Horner said. "It is impossible to calculate the economic impact on the community. The school system sustained heavy damage to their buildingsand many students have been absent due to relocation.

watsekatimesrepublic.com =>>>>>

Two weeks later

2008-01-09T08:26:00.000-06:00

Citizens scour Watseka for flood damage
By Jodi Heckel
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 7:03 AM CDT

WATSEKA – The floodwaters have receded from the streets of Watseka, replaced by piles of trash – carpet, drywall, appliances, furniture and other household items ruined by the water.

The city's residents are cleaning up after flooding two weeks ago forced about 1,500 people from their homes.

the News-Gazette=>>>>>

Comments from a Red Cross volunteer

2008-01-08T13:40:00.000-06:00

I am a Red Cross volunteer and just spent a couple weeks in Watseka after the recent flood. Yes, there are parts of town that are very susceptible to flooding. You can learn where these are by checking where the flood plain is. Every town has some problem residents that fuss, spat and do drugs and I'm sure Watseka is no different.

But, while there I found that I was in a warm welcoming community. Everywhere I went I was treated like I was an old friend. I felt safe everywhere I went at all times of the day or night. I was impressed with the sense of "community", and how much they seemed to "come together" after this recent event. I saw lots of people from different walks of life giving time and things to others that had lost much to the flood.

Except for one small thing I'd be glad to live there. It is too darn cold there for someone who grew up in the South. BRRR!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/illinois/26332-watseka-il-info-flood-info-2.html

Four weeks later ...

2008-01-07T20:21:00.000-06:00

Exactly four weeks later, Watseka gets hit with another major flood! This one did not make it to the siding on our house, nor did it make many headlines (flood in Watseka? old news). The waters only covered half the basement window, which is essentially twelve inches less than last months flood, and yet twelve inches more than any this community has had to endure in 50 years (last month's flood not included).

2nd flood

2008-01-06T09:42:00.000-06:00

Feb 8: already four inches lower than the peak and 16 inches lower than January's flood

2008-01-05T09:56:00.000-06:00

2008-01-04T14:25:00.000-06:00