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Cleanup continues in Burlington after severe flooding

Posted at 5:59 PM, Jul 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-14 19:35:39-04

It's been a dangerous situation over the last three days for Burlington families living along Fox River, and on Friday they cleanup efforts continued throughout the day.

Record water levels are continuing to creep down but the damage is already done and families are devastated.

Day three has been all about the cleanup process. Very emotional, Shane McCarthy says this flooding has been a huge problem for his family.

"You see this stuff happening and you don't think it's going to happen to you. I'm stressed,” he said. “I’m having a break down right now."

They've had no power for three days and it can be hard to deal with.

"You have to laugh or you're going to cry," said Colleen McCarthy, his mother.

But instead of feeling down they're picking up the pieces, cleaning up as much as they can.

"You're trying to do what you can to take precautions, we're in boots and we're in gloves. We probably should be wearing face masks," Colleen said.

They've been pumping their water for three days now, trying to salvage anything from the basement that was filled with water.

Wet clothes are being dried and neighbors from all over are throwing out damaged property.

Brandon Holbos has rented a dumpster to take his damaged property out.

Unlike nearly 4,000 other Burlington residents, Holbos has power. But in the meantime, he's just enjoying life with brats, beer and neighbors., the Wisconsin way.

"You've got to make the best of it. Everybody just pretty much just comes together, it's what you've got to do," Holbos said.

The McCarthy family said the costs are rising they will have to replace everything in the basement including drywall and carpet.