BY ALDRICH M. TAN • of The Northwestern • June 23, 2008

More than 30 Oshkosh residents from streets affected by last week’s flood came Sunday to the St. Jude the Apostle, Sacred Heart campus for a post-flood forum.

Workshop co-facilitator Fr. Tom Reynebeau said it was time to listen to the community and discuss the difficulties of the flooding, as well as their frustrations and develop some solutions

On the day of the flood, Barb Krause came back to her home on the 900 block of Fourth Avenue to two feet of water in her basement.

Her electricity and stove are back on but her furnace, hot water heater, and gas dryer were ruined in the flood.

Since she can’t afford a new hot water heater, Krause has to do what people used to do years ago - heat up water in a pan over the stove.
“It is just the way that it is,” she said.

Kurt and Stephanie Barnard on the 1300 block of Catherine Avenue, saw sewage come out of the floor drain, the toilet and in the bathtub.

The water went into their three bedrooms, living room, bathroom, and kitchen. Stephanie Barnard, a local teacher, said she lost her teaching materials and a family album.

Carol Joubert, who lives on the 1500 block of Jefferson Street, said she had a very difficult time figuring out what to do regarding disposing contaminated items.

She does not have Internet at home and the library was closed at the time. So, Joubert called the city hotline and it took hours before she finally got through and the information that she needed.

Then, the groups discussed several positive things that occurred because of the flood. Mary Alt, from the town of Algoma, said her discussion group was very grateful that there was no loss of life during the flood.

Mary Lynne Rasmussen, of Alpine Court, said she saw many families on her street showing up at other homes to help empty each other’s basements, vacuum, pick up water, and open storm drains.

“When something bad happens, there are also so many good things that happen also as a result of it,” she said.

Some solutions that the group discussed included fixing potholes that could become retaining ponds, putting backwater valves on sewage pipes, and developing a task force to discuss the aftermath of the flood.

Reynebeau said he plans to put the notes together and send them the Common Council and the Oshkosh Northwestern for their consideration.

Rasmussen added that she would also love to see the new city manager expand on Sunday’s workshop and have it at other neighborhoods throughout the city.

— Aldrich M. Tan: (920) 426-6663 or atan@thenorthwestern.com.