A deluge of rain water over two days drenched Black River Falls, residents of the Grove were forced to evacuate their homes. This is a example of nature’s true fury.

The FFA’s part of the community garden was all under water, devastating crops. Pumpkins needed to be cut and dried early, a dead deer was found in the soybean fields and piles of other crops rotted.

“The community garden was under water for a day; it is still very soggy. But, we’re able to put four wooden fence posts in Monday night,” agriscience teacher Brad Markhardt said.

The community garden contained plots used to grow crops for SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience). During Parent’s Night there is a SAE Project Fair, and with this flood the largest pumpkin competitors in the fair had to cut off their giant gourds and dry them off before they rotted away. Some of the deer fencing materials were scattered around the plots in disarray. The rain catcher was overflowing.

The water also set an onsought gift of standing water in some homes. Teacher Jeron Cassidy’s house had some water in their basement; Melanie Simones stayed with her sons, Anton and Silas, while Cassidy looked around at the flood. They vacuumed up the water and emptied it outside every 10 minutes.

Living up high on hills made made the flood less serious. Keyboarding teacher, Megan Finch, spent the time sleeping.

Mr. Markhardt, apart from the tragedies at the community garden, had no real problems at his house.

“I live in town. It didn’t affect me personally, but for others it might have–those who lost property, animals, suffered damaged to their homes,” Markhardt said.

Deb Jones, a former Extension agent, and owner of The Fiber Garden, lost all of her llamas, and all her wool animals.  The people who lost so much seem to have been forgotten in all the hustle of the days. Some say it wasn’t that bad but it really was.

Because she was in no potential danger, she had nothing to worry herself about. Sophomore Tashika Tangler, after coming home, caught a few winks herself.

“I was in my bed, asleep,” Tangler said.

News Channel 13 recorded the Black River’s depth of over 60 feet at its worst. That’s 14 feet above flood level. The new dam being built was underwater.

As they start to rebuild the dam it should be strong enough to withstand a flood like the one in 1911. During that flood, the dam burst and New York times said it was “almost destroyed,” said  Merchant General Store’s manager, Darren Durman.

“[The water] took 80 some buildings,” Durman said. “[ The water also] exceeded 1911 and 1993 record… without the levis it could have been a lot worse.”

Those levis really saved the town from utter catastrophe, Durman also said

“[Of the 80 buildings] most of the buildings were rebuilt.” Durman said. The store actually was one of the first buildings to be rebuilt after that first flood.