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The original item was published from 7/16/2017 5:22:00 PM to 7/16/2017 5:24:09 PM.

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Posted on: July 16, 2017

[ARCHIVED] Update on tips, resources available to flood victims

Representatives of Wisconsin Emergency Management met with local public safety and elected officials in western Kenosha County today as the response to this week’s flooding continues.

Flood waters in Kenosha County are beginning to recede, and as conditions are improving in Racine County, the American Red Cross has made additional resources available here.

A full-service shelter for flood victims is now open at Salem Grade School, 8828 Antioch Road (Highway 83). Users are asked to enter through the west entrance off of Highway AH (89th Street).

All affected residents from all municipalities are welcome. Dinner will be served at 6 tonight. Overnight accommodations will be available to those in need.

The Red Cross is also working on having a mental health specialist onsite at the shelter to assist people dealing with the trauma of the floods.

Other flood-related developments:

Law enforcement:

  • Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department personnel are working overtime to accommodate lengthened shifts for west-end squads, to help ensure a timely response to calls for service in flooded areas. A command post remains active at the former Silver Lake Village Hall.
  • Motorists are continuing to ignore traffic barricades and signs, driving into flooded areas. Sheriff David Beth advises this behavior is dangerous and illegal.

Waste disposal:

  • There have been reports of people burning flood-damaged furniture and debris in an unsafe manner and in violation of some municipal ordinances. People are asked not engage in this burning. The Village of Salem Lakes will provide curbside collection of debris. Somers residents may call the Village/Town Hall at 859-2822 during regular business hours Monday and Tuesday to request a special curbside pickup on Wednesday. Residents of other municipalities should call their local town or village hall for instructions on waste disposal.
  • People are asked to keep flood debris separate from normal household trash so collection costs may be accounted for as the county seeks state and federal disaster aid.

Health resources:

  • Kenosha County public health nurses will be available Monday to treat people who believe they may be experiencing health effects as a result of flooding. Tetanus vaccinations will be available to those who experienced puncture wounds in the floods. Nurses will be on duty beginning at 8 a.m. at the Kenosha County Center, highways 45 and 50 in Bristol; the former Silver Lake Village Hall, 113 S. First St. in the Village of Salem Lakes; and the Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Road in Kenosha.

Water testing:

  • Residents whose wells were submerged by floods are still urged to disinfect their wells and test their water. Water test kits, which were delivered to the former Silver Lake Village Hall on Saturday, ran out Sunday. The county is in the process of obtaining more of them from the state of Wisconsin. They are expected to become available Monday and will be available at town and village halls and the Kenosha County Center. People are urged to contact their local town or village hall to confirm availability. Town and village halls are expected to have normal business hours Monday; in addition, the former Silver Lake Village Hall will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Village of Salem Lakes residents.
  • The Kenosha County Division of Health suggests affected residents proceed with disinfecting their wells even before the test kits become available, as water should not be tested until 24 hours after disinfection. A guide to disinfecting wells appears on pages 10 and 11 of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Flood Toolkit, available at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p0/p00631.pdf.

Transportation:

  • The Highway F closure at the Fox River near Silver Lake reopened this afternoon.
  • The sinkhole on Highway C between highways D and 45 has been repaired, and the roadway is now reopened.
  • Highway JB has reopened between highways W and 83.

The following roads remain closed as of this afternoon:

  • Highway 50 at the Fox River bridge (under approximately 2 to 3 feet of water)
  • Highway EA between highways L and S (sinkhole)
  • Highway W between highways 50 and 52nd Street (water across roadway)
  • Highway W between highways C and JI (water across roadway)
  • Highway B between highways F and AH (water across roadway)
  • 13th Avenue just north of Highway A in Somers

Donations:

  • The Sharing Center is accepting cash donations to help Kenosha County residents affected by flooding. Donations may be made online at www.thesharingcenter.net, in person at 25700 Wilmot Road, or by mail to P.O. Box 172, Trevor, WI 53179.
  • The Sharing Center is also in need of cleaning supplies – specifically, bleach, rubber gloves, large black garbage bags, masks and large square-nose shovels – to distribute to flood-affected residents. Note: the Sharing Center cannot accept donations of baby formula.
  • Those in need of help are urged to contact the Sharing Center at 262-298-5535 or by email at director@thesharingcenter.net.
  • Donations to the American Red Cross may be earmarked for the Kenosha County floods.

Public assistance:

  • Recipients of public assistance who lost their FoodShare or E-WIC cards in a flood may call 262-657-0840 to request replacements.

Beware of scams:

  • Beware of scams from supposed cleanup companies and people claiming to be with relief agencies seeking personal information. If you believe you may have been targeted by a scammer, please call Kenosha Joint Services dispatch at 262-656-1234. A list of area water damage restoration companies, compiled by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, is at http://www.kenoshacounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/6912.

Report damage:

  • All Kenosha County residents, businesses or farms that sustained flood damage are reminded to report that damage to the Kenosha County Emergency Management Flood Hotline at 262-605-7924, leaving a message detailing the damage sustained. Damage may also be reported by email at disaster@kenoshacounty.org. Reporting damage will assist the county in its efforts to obtain disaster relief funding.

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