As Burlington deals with a disaster, communities from across southeastern Wisconsin are lending a hand.
By Friday afternoon, the Fox River receded to just over 14 feet, still well above flood stage. The damage along the flood’s path became more clear to Nicole Gramhofer.
“Depressing, sad, I literally don’t know what to do,” Gramhofer said.
Gramhofer lives in one of the 150 homes impacted by the flood. She and many others were greeted Friday by someone they had never met.
“They brought us water, cleaning supplies,” Gramhofer said.
Volunteers from the Red Cross and local businesses canvassed neighborhoods. Some set up stands along nearby streets.
“We’ve seen people in need, we’ve seen people with clothes in their car, we’ve seen people who just needed water,” said volunteer Portia Jordan.
Jordan and other Lowe’s employees spent their day handing out refreshments and cleaning supplies.
“It’s heartwarming and it’s also heart-jerking to know that someone is so grateful for just water,” she said. “We’ve all cried, we’ve hugged.”
The volunteer effort only grows at Burlington High School.
“This is the biggest that I’ve helped with,” said Red Cross assistant Mike Vohs.
Victims are encouraged to come to the high school for water, meals, even a place to stay. It’s staffed by dozens of people across the state.
“Our own responders that are here are affected by the flooding too,” Vohs said.
Back in the flooded neighborhoods, many are leaning on family.
“We’ve been down for three days, no air conditioning, we’ve had no running water for showers or washing up,” said James Mitchell.
Mitchell is spending countless hours helping at his brother’s house.
“We got new pumps and we’re trying to get the basement emptied out right now,” he said.
More than 80 members of the Wisconsin National Guard are also in town to conduct traffic and check on the welfare of residents.
