| 4/17/2009 11:45:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Flood victim sought for basement revamp
By Ryan Whisner
Regional Editor
A Fort Atkinson company is seeking to help a resident whose home was hit hard by the 2008 flood, but who might not have the money to repair the damage.
For more than 30 years, Badger Basement Systems has been waterproofing basements across southern Wisconsin and into northern Illinois.
The business now is seeking nominations of Fort Atkinson residents whose home basements were destroyed in the record 2008 flood. The selected homeowner will receive a customized waterproofing system for his or her home.
"The lucky homeowner will never have to worry about a wet basement again," Chrissy Allard, marketing coordinator for Badger Basements, said.
She pointed out that many Fort Atkinson residents learned the hard way in 2008 that a wet basement does not just go away on its own.
The worst of the flooding in 2008 was in early June, when the state was inundated with several inches of rain on the weekend of June 7-8. That pushed river levels up all across Wisconsin and caused extensive damage, including the washout of a levy that formed the popular Lake Delton near the Wisconsin Dells. Locally, between June 7 and 8, heavy rain also washed out dams that formed the 17-acre, 11-foot-deep Upper Spring Lake near Palmyra and the Cushman Millpond.
The cities of Fort Atkinson and Jefferson both issued flooding emergencies as the Rock, Crawfish and Bark rivers continued to rise above record levels, putting residents near the rivers on notice and advising those who chose to remain in flood areas that they did so at their own risk.
Areas of utmost concern in Fort Atkinson were the 500 block of East Milwaukee Avenue and the neighborhood located between Ralph Park and the Rock River.
Following the 2008 flood, Allard said, Badger Basement literally was "flooded" with calls.
"We were booked out quite a ways," she said, with projects booked months in advance as a result of the flood.
Badger Basement services more than half of Wisconsin and much of the company's service area was impacted by the high waters last year.
"Right now, we are still getting caught up from last spring," Allard said.
Typically, Badger Basement is busy in the spring and continues to catch up during the winter months.
After last year's record-breaking high water, many people assumed it was a one time event. When the rivers started rising again early this spring, Allard said, many area residents were watching with a wary eye.
"I think we got the people that had the sense of urgency last year so they wanted to get it done right away; those people who just wanted to wait and see if it happened again," she said.
During the 2008 flood, Badger Basement Systems donated 100 sump pumps to residences needing them across Jefferson County.
"This year we feel we need to do more," Allard said.
Badger Basement owner Jim Hedrik noted that the effects from a wet basement can be everlasting, from allergens and mold to the damage it can do to the structure of the home. High humidity in the basement impacts the remainder of a home, as well.
"The higher the humidity in your home, the more problems present themselves for both your family and your home," Hedrik said.
Once a home begins to show signs of high humidity or dampness, it means the residents have already been exposed to unhealthy conditions for a period of time, he explained.
"Let's face it: Everyone wants their family to be healthy and free from things that can cause discomfort or even illness," Hedrick said. "Keeping your basement dry is a huge first step to doing just that."
To nominate someone for the free basement waterproofing, send a letter stating why the nominee should be picked, including a story or photos of the damage incurred in last year's flood.
Nominees must reside in Fort Atkinson and have substantial flood damage from 2008. The value of the waterproofing system will be determined by the size of the winning basement.
The deadline for nomination submissions is Friday, May 15.
Nomination entries should be sent to Badger Basement Systems, Attn.: Fort Flood Relief, Flood Renewal Nominee, P.O. Box 158, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538.
For more information on the Fort Atkinson Flood Relief, e-mail Allard at chrissya@badgerbasementsystems.com.
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