Posted: 9/18/07
One month later, theyíre
still picking up the pieces
 Ike Dulas of Dulas Excavating of Wells, Minn., watches as a large loader digs through what was once the home of the Lynn Partington home just north of Brownsville. Photo by Tom Hammell |
By Thomas E. Hammell
For the Caledonia Argus
Weeks after a torrential downpour sent Scott Woodardís rural Brownsville house down the hill, he still doesnít like to spend more than 20 minutes on the site where it used to be.
Thursday morning Woodard showed the site where his house stood, overlooking the Mississippi River before the weekend flash floods of August 18 and 19. A scar from the ordeal is still visible on the top of his head.
Woodard was in the house at the time with his fiance, Joanne Krenzke, and three grandchildren, Mikayla, 7, Seth, 5, and Kaytlin, 2.
"Basically, the back of the house just exploded," he said.
The mud pushed Woodard down the hill, along with his house. Though he suffered a concussion and a cut on his head, no one was injured beyond that.
The family waited for over two hours at a neighborís house for the rescue workers to arrive.
Deputies made their way up the hill and used a rope to help the family down.
"They did a hell of a job in a really dangerous situation," he said.
Woodard noticed the outpouring of support from the community as soon as they made it to the Brownsville Community Center. The building was filled with people, both displaced and those trying to help. Woodard didnít get a chance to stay long, because he was taken to Decorah, where he stayed in the hospital for three days.
"The hardest part was not knowing what was going on here," he said.
Since the storms, the family has had volunteers from Houston County Agricultural Services, to friends and family members helping clean up the several feet of mud and debris that have washed down the hill.
The private contractor lost all of his tools during the mudslide, but has been able to cobble together enough to get by with a donated tools and insurance money. Aside from the clothes they wore to bed and a few sentimental items, the family lost everything.
Woodard said the family has no plans to move back to the site. For now they are staying in an apartment in Brownsville.
They will be moving into a cabin in Brownsville owned by Liz and Ed Hendel until they figure out what their plans are.
Less than a mile away, Lynn Partington worked at clearing materials from the basement of what used to be his house. The Partington home, like the Woodard house, was pushed off its foundation by a massive mudslide and deposited over 100 feet below on State Highway 26.
He was helped by his brothers Larry and Lee and his son Mike.
Lee Partington said this was hard for all of the family, because they all had good memories of the house.
"Weíd been here three weeks before, sitting on the deck," he said.
The Wells firm, Dulas Excavating volunteered their time after signing up for a Federal Emergency Management Agency list.
Partington said they got a permit to burn a week before, so they finally could get to the wreckage.
Each bucketfull the excavator took out was a surprise. Buckets turned up Christmas ornaments, teddy bears and a bed.
Partington said the house was paid for, now the family has to take out a loan because insurance wonít cover the damage.
The federal government has given them a $200,000 loan for 30 years as well as $40,000 for household items.
"Thatís not enough," he said. He said they will buy a condo in Brownsville, which will be furnished with items that have been donated.
They have had volunteers from the civil air patrol out of Mankato, as well as private donations and donations from the Lions Club.
"Weíve had a lot of support from the community," Partington said.
Woodard agreed, saying he expected people to be helpful, but not to this extent.
"I canít even tell you the number of people who walk by every day and ask if there is anything they can do," he said.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com