Monroe County survey seeks storm damage reports

Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News
·3 min read
David McFadden, a member of the Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist Church in Evergreen Acres in Monroe Township, explains the damage caused to the church after a storm drain backup, 200 yards from Plum Creek, flooded the church and many residents in August.
David McFadden, a member of the Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist Church in Evergreen Acres in Monroe Township, explains the damage caused to the church after a storm drain backup, 200 yards from Plum Creek, flooded the church and many residents in August.

Monroe County Emergency Management has released a survey to help citizens document property damage related to storms and flooding in August, and Dave McFadden is urging flood victims to respond as soon as possible.

McFadden, a former Frenchtown firefighter, was one of many Monroe County residents impacted by recent storm damage. A two-day period of heavy rain Aug. 24-25 damaged homes in the county, including McFadden’s home on Norway Street in Evergreen Acres, located near Dunbar and Telegraph roads. South of the subdivision, Plum Creek caused flooding in low-lying areas.

Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist Church in Evergreen Acres in Monroe Township was damaged after a storm drain backup from heavy rain in August flooded the church.
Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist Church in Evergreen Acres in Monroe Township was damaged after a storm drain backup from heavy rain in August flooded the church.

“I spoke with Sue Martinez at Monroe County Emergency Management on Raisinville Road by the fairgrounds. She said everybody that had any type of flooding problems should go online and fill out the survey so that the information can be forwarded to FEMA and this can be considered a national disaster,” McFadden said.

Information about the survey can be found on the Monroe County Emergency Management website or at tinyurl.com/Aug23stormsurvey.

The document is to help citizens report property damage related to the weather and flooding.

A photo taken from a car window shows flooding at Hemlock and Plum Creek streets in Evergreen Acres in Monroe after two days of storms in August.
A photo taken from a car window shows flooding at Hemlock and Plum Creek streets in Evergreen Acres in Monroe after two days of storms in August.

“Everyone I’ve talked to in the area doesn’t know about the survey so the goal is to get as many people as we can to fill out a survey,” he said.

McFadden initially contacted Martinez to inquire if there would be any assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Following natural disasters, the agency may provide individual or public assistance.

Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist on Spruce Street and many other residents in Evergreen Acres experienced flooding from a storm drain backing up from Plum Creek.
Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist on Spruce Street and many other residents in Evergreen Acres experienced flooding from a storm drain backing up from Plum Creek.

He is not only concerned about his home but also the extensive damage sustained to his church, Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist Church on Spruce Street.

“We lost all our floors and cabinets. We took three trailer loads to Stevens Disposal,” McFadden said. “We’ve sectioned off an area where we can worship. We removed drywall 1 foot from the floor. We had to get it out as quickly as possible because we didn’t want mold.”

Members of the congregation are working together to get the church back to normal operating conditions.

Drywall had to be taken out after over a foot of water damaged the walls and flooring of Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist Church in Evergreen Acres in Monroe Township.
Drywall had to be taken out after over a foot of water damaged the walls and flooring of Monroe Missionary Bible Baptist Church in Evergreen Acres in Monroe Township.

“The church is 200 yards from Plum Creek. There’s a surface drain that runs down the east side of Cedar Street and no provisions were made for it to have a clapper or one-way valve, so as soon as Plum Creek overflows its bank, it floods the neighborhood. The county and drain commission are aware of the issue,” he said.

According to McFadden, a lady who lives across the street from the church had 6 feet of water in her basement but there was no water between her house and Plum Creek.

The storm drain on Cedar Street in Evergreen Acres, which is approximately 200 yards from Plum Creek, became backed up during the August storms, causing the entire area behind the storm drain to flood to the next block of Spruce Street.
The storm drain on Cedar Street in Evergreen Acres, which is approximately 200 yards from Plum Creek, became backed up during the August storms, causing the entire area behind the storm drain to flood to the next block of Spruce Street.

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“My neighbor across the street from us was walking through his garage and the water was up to his waist,” he said. “The flooding affected Monroe County, Wayne County, Washtenaw and Lenawee counties also. This is why we need as many people as possible to fill out the survey so we can get the information collected. There’s a possibility FEMA will step in and try to help families.”

“We’re on limited time,” said Susan Martinez, emergency management specialist. “So far, we’ve had over 600 submit the survey. Our damage assessment team went out to assess damages based on the addresses from the survey. The damage is not just Monroe County. We’re looking at statewide damage from the storm.”

A resident uses a kayak Aug. 24 in floodwaters from Plum Creek, above on Plum Creek Drive and Norway Street in Evergreen Acres.
A resident uses a kayak Aug. 24 in floodwaters from Plum Creek, above on Plum Creek Drive and Norway Street in Evergreen Acres.

Martinez said posts about the survey were also made on social media and through Nixle announcements via phone numbers on file as part of the alert system.

“Notifications were made through phone alerts, Facebook, the City of Monroe and other jurisdictions sent out the information to citizens. We weren’t doing this alone,” Martinez said.

Anyone with questions or needing more information about the survey can call the office at 734-240-3135 or log on to www.co.monroe.mi.us/166/Emergency-Management. Monroe County flooding information is listed at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County survey seeks storm damage reports

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