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| Magnolia Tree at Fennville High School |
Spring has sprung....Sort of
By: Al LaShell
May 1, 2009
You've heard the saying, April
showers brings May flowers. For
several residents of the Greater
Fennville region, the mention of
water you may just receive a bad look.
Many Fennville and Allegan County
residents have experienced flooding as never
before. Heavy snowfalls and persistent rain
falls have created higher than normal water
table and flooding in low lying areas which
includes many basements.
Fennville True Value Hardware's Bob
Zumbrink reports that they have sold out of
pumps and other related items. Many have
reported that they haven't seen this in 30 or
more years and it may take months of dry
weather for everything to dry out.
A drive through the Pullman area and you'll see that you may not be as bad off as
others. Imagine your home being completely surrounded by water. And the water has
not receded for months. The above images were taken on March 17 and it looks the
same now. The flooding started with a heavy rainfall just after Christmas melting 3-4
feet of snow, but kicked into high gear on Friday, February 13th. Now, May is here and
there is no end in sight.
Community Recreation director and High School Athletic Director Tony Petkus has had
to deal with rescheduling ball games but it's the ball fields at the city park that are like
an over saturated sponge. "We're not sure what we are going to do," adds Petkus.
Tony Morgan, of Morgan Insurance said that he has had so many customers
reporting flooded basements that have never flooded. "We are in an area that normally
doesn't flood so our customers don't have flood insurance and it makes if very
frustrating," said Morgan.
Fennville Middle School teacher Jim Sexton says that the water coming in his
basement is like a stream. Sexton's neighbor, Denny Van Plew has had to create a
pumping system to pump the water as far away from his house as he can.
Recently I was at the New Richmond bridge. I've always noticed the water marks on
the railroad supports. The water is now so high on the Kalamazoo river that it covers
the highest water marks. The railroad was built in 1907.
I've been able to research the flooding first hand because our home/studio located in
our basement is a daily nightmare. I've taken breaks writing this story to pump out
water. Just about everything has to be rebuilt. And of course we are not covered
either.
So if you hear local residents talking about praying for a drought, you will know what
they are talking about.
May 1, 2009
You've heard the saying, April
showers brings May flowers. For
several residents of the Greater
Fennville region, the mention of
water you may just receive a bad look.
Many Fennville and Allegan County
residents have experienced flooding as never
before. Heavy snowfalls and persistent rain
falls have created higher than normal water
table and flooding in low lying areas which
includes many basements.
Fennville True Value Hardware's Bob
Zumbrink reports that they have sold out of
pumps and other related items. Many have
reported that they haven't seen this in 30 or
more years and it may take months of dry
weather for everything to dry out.
A drive through the Pullman area and you'll see that you may not be as bad off as
others. Imagine your home being completely surrounded by water. And the water has
not receded for months. The above images were taken on March 17 and it looks the
same now. The flooding started with a heavy rainfall just after Christmas melting 3-4
feet of snow, but kicked into high gear on Friday, February 13th. Now, May is here and
there is no end in sight.
Community Recreation director and High School Athletic Director Tony Petkus has had
to deal with rescheduling ball games but it's the ball fields at the city park that are like
an over saturated sponge. "We're not sure what we are going to do," adds Petkus.
Tony Morgan, of Morgan Insurance said that he has had so many customers
reporting flooded basements that have never flooded. "We are in an area that normally
doesn't flood so our customers don't have flood insurance and it makes if very
frustrating," said Morgan.
Fennville Middle School teacher Jim Sexton says that the water coming in his
basement is like a stream. Sexton's neighbor, Denny Van Plew has had to create a
pumping system to pump the water as far away from his house as he can.
Recently I was at the New Richmond bridge. I've always noticed the water marks on
the railroad supports. The water is now so high on the Kalamazoo river that it covers
the highest water marks. The railroad was built in 1907.
I've been able to research the flooding first hand because our home/studio located in
our basement is a daily nightmare. I've taken breaks writing this story to pump out
water. Just about everything has to be rebuilt. And of course we are not covered
either.
So if you hear local residents talking about praying for a drought, you will know what
they are talking about.
| Home surrounded by water on 109th Ave |