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Racine Lutheran High School – Nate Bickel, teacher at Racine Lutheran High School (RLHS), reports that on June 9, Racine Lutheran High School became an island surrounded by the flooding waters of the Root River. As the waters rose and with the potential for the school to be flooded, sand bagging and prayers began. Many students, parents, alumni, faculty, and city workers arrived, wading through knee deep water to get to the school building. The word of the potential disaster spread quickly through the local, state, and national media, as well as various prayer chains. The work and prayers began and within hours people in Michigan and as far as Texas were praying for the high school. The flood waters came within 10 inches of the building, but in the end the building stayed completely dry. "We are thankful for all the people who came to the rescue and especially for all those who were praying for the school," said Bickel. We are thankful for the grace that God revealed to us throughout this entire ordeal."

  

On June 13 it was reported that waters were starting to recede and the street in front of RLHS is now visible.

     

 

Prince of Peace, Racine – Members are cleaning up from a flooded basement where their day care and preschool programs are held. A power loss during the storm caused the sump pump to stop working. Insurance adjusters have been begun to assess the damages.

 

Zion, La Valle – Zion is in the Wisconsin Dells area. Their parsonage was totally flooded in the basement up to the floor boards of the main level. All mechanicals will need to be replaced in the parsonage. The church has no basement, so all the sewer water went into the worship area. Water covered the pews up to the seats and the altar furnishings to a depth of 16 inches. To date (July 11) the congregation has spent $43,000 in supplies and materials and used their own labor to begin to make both structures habitable. The members are currently worshipping with the congregation at St. Paul, La Valle, about seven miles to the north.

 

St. Peter, Reedsburg – Also near the Dells, Rev. Paul Crolius of St. Peter in Reedsburg reported they have about a dozen families whose homes are so badly flooded that they had to evacuate until the water recedes and they can assess the damages. As of July 7 we are aware that some of these homes are a total loss. One farmer lost $50,000 worth of farm equipment. The church, Red Cross and the community are pulling together to help each other. Some disaster workers are staying in St. Paul's school gymnasium. Evacuees are staying with other family members or in hotels. The congregation's assistance funds are almost gone. They are making an appeal for contributions for these families' immediate needs and asking them to also report their losses, when known, to the municipality and apply for federal assistance.

 

 

St. Peter-Immanuel, Milwaukee – This congregation has flooding in the church basement, causing significant damage to their extended learning center. All carpeting needs replacement as well as resources for the learning center. An insurance adjuster is assessing the damages.

 

Grace, Oak Creek – Rev. Dean Dummer reported that everything in their basement is destroyed. Their early childhood center director, Sarah Bateman, reported that they have now moved back to the church basement. They had to replace all of the ECC furnishings, rugs and supplies. Other damage includes kitchen cupboards, all lower level carpeting, tile, boiler and hot water heater. Early estimates of damages are at least $25,000.  Sarah also had 8 to 10 inches of flood water in her own basement.

Our Father, Greenfield – Flood water caused damage to the school and church basements. Boiler room equipment in the school will need to be replaced and the church basement, where they hold their day care program, will need considerable repair.

 

Mt. Calvary, Milwaukee – Rev. Tom Eggebrecht reported that their brand new addition had a sewer backup in the girls’ bathroom that sent an inch of water throughout their carpeted library. Some books were damaged and carpeting will need to be replaced.

 

Bethlehem, Wales – Rev. Allen Behnke said that they will need to replace all drywall, carpeting and furnishings in the basement level of their church. They have estimated the cost to be $200,000. They were cleaning up after the first four inches of rain when another three inches fell in the second round of storms. As of July 11 they are still waiting to see how much insurance will cover.

 

Good Shepherd, Watertown – Several members had to evacuate their homes and they are waiting for their damages to be assessed.

 

St. John, Sullivan – A member's home is reported to be a total loss when the nearby lake water rose and invaded the home. The familiy will need to rebuild. Another member who is a farmer has probably lost 50% or more of his corn and mint crop. His fields look like lakes and there are actually carp jumping in them! He will not know what his actual loss is until harvest season. The congregation is also concerned for a local resident who lost his wife in a car accident in May, and now his home is flooded up to the first floor living quarters.

 

St. Peter, Muscoda and Christ, Highland - Rev. Mark Meier contacted us via e-mail from the public library June 14 as they lost Internet service and land line phones due to the flood. He reported that the nearby town of Avoca was entirely evacuated to Muscoda! The residents were allowed back to inspect their homes on June 13. If there was no water in the house and it did have electricity, they were allowed to stay. Many members from both congregations suffered damage. The Red Cross is assisting this area.

 

Pella, Waupun - Rev. David Stevens reported June 23 that the church fellowship hall and basement had close to 5 feet of water in some places, causing damage to the lower cabinets, moldings and doors. They will need to be replaced. A quilting room suffered damage to some of the sewing machines and material. The junior youth room lost everything, including ping pong and air hockey tables and couches. They are trying to dry out and save some of their archives. The parsonage did not escape either, but had four feet of water in some places. The total damage is estimated to be $100,000 which may be covered by insurance.