Exploring Elroy Wisconsin, One of America's abandoned no go zones forgotten by FEMA

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  • čas přidán 7. 11. 2020
  • While riding my dirt bike out one day I came across a street that was unusually quiet. After talking to some residents, it became clear that the story of this road was something that had to get out. As of now FEMA still has yet to give the people of this street the compensation they need, and the houses, have yet to be demolished, all these years later. I got permission to explore this street by the residents of the town and church. If you come here, please be mindful that in every house, people once lived...

Komentáře • 1,3K

  • @arielatarantino6671
    @arielatarantino6671 Před 2 lety +856

    Never knew about this and I live here in Wisconsin. Shows how much even local news truly cares.

    • @chrism8180
      @chrism8180 Před 2 lety +36

      They don't care about poor people

    • @nicholasgoble9716
      @nicholasgoble9716 Před 2 lety +42

      I live in Wisconsin as well and never heard about this

    • @gothby9815
      @gothby9815 Před 2 lety +13

      Live in Wi did know about the flooding because of the news out of la crosse. Didnt know thing were still in that bad of shape. Although its only been 2 years and these things take time.

    • @Metalbass10000
      @Metalbass10000 Před 2 lety +19

      I live in Wisconsin also and had never heard about how these people have been left with no help

    • @mista414
      @mista414 Před 2 lety +6

      Same here

  • @jeffreyminor4701
    @jeffreyminor4701 Před 2 lety +919

    We had a (every hundred years) flood in 2006 in N.E. Ohio. No flood insurance. FEMA gave us $2,000 for home/property. We got a mop, squeegee, broom combo and a towel from the Red Cross. We still laugh about the "help" we got. I can totally understand why people moved away from New Orleans and never went back after Hurricane Katrina.

    • @ratslayer110
      @ratslayer110 Před 2 lety +27

      That's Ohio for ya

    • @jjakfamily
      @jjakfamily Před 2 lety +109

      That's what is always said. We had a 100 year flood in 2016 in Baton Rouge. La . My wife and I lived in flood zone x so no flood insurance. We received $3,200 for 2 cars and our home with all belongings. That's when I truly understood the govt does not care about us.

    • @earlyre
      @earlyre Před 2 lety +21

      Bluffton/Ottawa, etc? (Blanchard River)
      I remember that flood.
      One of my sister's friends had a basement apt in Ottawa, flooded out, so she moved to a second floor apt in Cols. Grove. The next summer a Tornado took off the front wall of that building... Not sure where she ended up after that...

    • @GeckoHiker
      @GeckoHiker Před 2 lety +40

      Can anyone share why people build and live in flood zones? I live well out of a local flood plain but an entire neighborhood nearby was built on bottom land by a creek. They flood every year, sometimes multiple times, and most are renters.

    • @lenorebritton4973
      @lenorebritton4973 Před 2 lety +28

      @@debb4099
      Not true. I hate to hear this rumor about illegals. What the government does is give the people of Asian and Indian decent (India) money to live without paying taxes for 5 years while they get their businesses started, then these same people after 5 years move and give the business to kin and this kin have 5 years of tax free fare and the world turns......

  • @donnafountain4471
    @donnafountain4471 Před 2 lety +824

    How does this happen to American's when we literally give trillions in aid to other countries for disaster relief. This is an absolute nightmare even for those of us who didn't experience it! We have got to get this government under control!!!!

    • @FoulPet
      @FoulPet Před 2 lety +45

      America is bankrupt living off credit cards and still continues to apply for more cards.

    • @michaelcoffey5645
      @michaelcoffey5645 Před 2 lety +39

      @Lujan FYI the United States spends a total of 0.06% of our GDP on Israel. 99.7% of that is military aid which is money kept in the US since Israel spends the money on American built planes and other defense equipment. Our government is simply subsidizing the defense industry which keeps Americans working.

    • @michellegarry1872
      @michellegarry1872 Před 2 lety +30

      “Disaster relief” to line the pockets of corrupt government “officials.” The people never see a dime. Just ask La Palmans about their corrupt Spanish government.

    • @johnclamshellsp1969
      @johnclamshellsp1969 Před 2 lety +41

      When Donald J Trump was in office, he did cut wasted tax payer spending in other country's.Billions saved. However the corrupt politicians absolutely hated this because the "kickbacks" went away. With our current administration, it truly is America Last.

    • @densebread
      @densebread Před 2 lety +26

      @@michaelcoffey5645 man, 3.5 billion dollars each year going to Israel to bomb Palestinian women and children (Israel being rightfully theirs) is kinda ridiculous. That billions should be going to America and it's citizens, not foreign aid. And don't get me started how 24 out of 27 hedgefund investors in america (mind you, so damn rich they can determine the outcome of the entire country) are Israelis. Why do we send so much money to foreign countries, and why do foreigners have financial power in our country? Sucks.

  • @mesquitetejas8328
    @mesquitetejas8328 Před 2 lety +174

    Wow, this is sad..And listing to the older gentleman speak about his experience..40 yrs of memory's gone..

  • @apocyldoomer
    @apocyldoomer Před 2 lety +303

    Man, after living in your own home for 40 years than be living in an apartment, that is just awful, good luck to all of the victims of this floods!!

    • @jakejonesy9275
      @jakejonesy9275 Před 2 lety +7

      My neighbor is 80 with a pacemaker….he redone his own house after the last hurricane…he didn’t loose his house.

    • @miapdx503
      @miapdx503 Před 2 lety +5

      I had to move from a lovely home...two story, fireplace, it was truly lovely. I live in an apartment now, and it's nice.
      But it's no house 😔

    • @apocyldoomer
      @apocyldoomer Před 2 lety +3

      @@miapdx503 Oh man, hang in there, we’ve been thru the ringer, but not from a flood, I couldn’t imagine, you’ll get another home , best of luck to you!

    • @miapdx503
      @miapdx503 Před 2 lety +5

      @@apocyldoomer you know, at this stage of life (I'm 62) I'll probably never have another house, but I'm blessed with memories...children and granbabies, my husband, so many wonderful memories, so I'm grateful for that. God is good 🌹

    • @apocyldoomer
      @apocyldoomer Před 2 lety +3

      @@miapdx503 Yes , we’ve had our share of hard times, but always made it thru somehow, Good day

  • @demonhearts4610
    @demonhearts4610 Před 2 lety +131

    I lived in elroy , it was my home town... the whole town wasn't abandon just that part of the street it is in one of the worse flooding zones with the baraboo River and small marsh near by. Most farming was done on the upper hills but the residents that lived on the hills were safe, it doesn't surprise me the town starting to be abandon. It isn't the best place to live and they don't care about the people there.....

  • @mc14m33
    @mc14m33 Před 2 lety +291

    Interesting side note, the former governor of the state of Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson, was born and raised in Elroy Wisconsin. He went on to serve as Secretary of health and human services, and is currently in acting interim president of the University of Wisconsin. But I guess no one can figure out how to fix this problem in
    Elroy Wisconsin.
    They just don't want to, probably because there's no money in it.

    • @RedSiegfried
      @RedSiegfried Před 2 lety +12

      Tommy Thompson isn't the governor anymore. A Democrat is. Elections have consequences. Ask Tony Evers what he's doing to help other than blame Trump and Coronavirus for everything that happens.

    • @ericluebbers4415
      @ericluebbers4415 Před 2 lety +4

      Red you forgot your favorite Scott walker

    • @ericluebbers4415
      @ericluebbers4415 Před 2 lety +5

      @@RedSiegfried I believe trump was president for the last flood also. FEMA is a federal program. Put blame where blame is due

    • @RJ1999x
      @RJ1999x Před 2 lety +5

      @@ericluebbers4415 butthurt?

    • @ericluebbers4415
      @ericluebbers4415 Před 2 lety +2

      @@RJ1999x not at all just using facts. It seems you are the one that is butthurt trying to lay blame on someone else.

  • @cynthiatolman326
    @cynthiatolman326 Před 2 lety +84

    I love how you made contact with the people who lost these homes. The man at the church made me feel so sad and the woodwork was fantastic, I hope they save that. Sometimes the only answer is to let things go, people matter more

    • @InsightlyDigest
      @InsightlyDigest Před rokem +2

      I know he did a great job interviewing and talking with them.

  • @AFloridaSon
    @AFloridaSon Před 2 lety +322

    Interesting. Very well done. It's crazy how people haven't heard about this. Someone needs to go there and do a real in-depth documentary, and get the word out to more people, and maybe pressure FEMA into doing something for them. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

    • @kristinatidwell6563
      @kristinatidwell6563 Před 2 lety +3

      What's the name of the church?

    • @kristinatidwell6563
      @kristinatidwell6563 Před 2 lety +8

      Why haven't the people who lived there haven't already emailed their requests to Nightline, 20/20, or 60 minutes?

    • @godzilla2k26
      @godzilla2k26 Před 2 lety +6

      @@kristinatidwell6563 Are you certain they didn't?

    • @whitenoise509
      @whitenoise509 Před 2 lety +6

      I can guarantee you this has already been tried. I know a few people from varied southern states in the US that have been victims of floods. They all share the same story of the amount of assistance given by the government, and it's definitely not much.
      On a side note, is it supposed to be FEMA's job to do something besides saving lives and temporary care? I don't really know anything about their mandate or mission statement.

    • @Gator777
      @Gator777 Před 2 lety +4

      FEMA would help my brother if he needed a loan. His house was partially flooded, with many others also flooded. Only help was a loan. Useless.

  • @bradymadden1225
    @bradymadden1225 Před 2 lety +53

    My father and his two brothers grew up in Elroy and we drive through there every time we go to our property. Everything is still there exactly how you see it

  • @OddGuy
    @OddGuy Před 3 lety +190

    Damn bro this is some journalistic type stuff, crazy how these people haven't been compensated 12 years later

    • @chrisstromberg6527
      @chrisstromberg6527 Před rokem +1

      Compensated for what? If you build or live in a flood zone and you don't purchase insurance for flooding, who should pay for this?

  • @Mary-kl2kj
    @Mary-kl2kj Před 2 lety +40

    I couldn’t even imagine loosing my home after 40 years,especially to a flood. I feel for these people.

  • @StringerMedia
    @StringerMedia  Před 3 lety +259

    The homes have since been demolished

    • @paulbland5539
      @paulbland5539 Před 3 lety +11

      Make sure they reach out to their representatives For their area

    • @brianpendergast2894
      @brianpendergast2894 Před 2 lety +21

      4 idiots from FEMA came to my house on Long Island today asking about damage from Hurricane Irma a year ago. I told them we had no damage in this area. Get the hell out to Wisconsin!!

    • @ghost-xl3hl
      @ghost-xl3hl Před 2 lety +4

      Well fema do not help kentucky

    • @michaeladams3500
      @michaeladams3500 Před 2 lety +10

      FEMA doesn't help people. just like the FAA, a running joke among pilots is " hello, i'm from the FAA and i'm here to help."

    • @thefordmaniac
      @thefordmaniac Před 2 lety +16

      "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"

  • @upstatekennels4677
    @upstatekennels4677 Před 3 lety +111

    "life goes on, you just gotta keep plugging away" This strong individual amazes me. God bless him 🙏

  • @melissabryan3043
    @melissabryan3043 Před 3 lety +87

    My heart breaks for all but the man in the beginning talking about 40 years of memories...really broke me!💔

  • @randygunn9499
    @randygunn9499 Před 2 lety +54

    I'm from Minnesota and we and Wisconsin have a Viking Packer rivalry but when you see this it just crush's your heart. Dam,what a sick terrible tragedy.

  • @lizziehole8424
    @lizziehole8424 Před 2 lety +36

    You were very respectful -your work in sharing this situation, especially with the owner who would have appreciated having you with him to check on his house and his neighbourhood

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 2 lety +6

      Thank you. I just accidentally ran into him so I didn't know what to say. I'm glad it worked out

  • @conveyor2
    @conveyor2 Před 3 lety +157

    Thank you for this. These communities deserve to be remembered.

    • @queenfubi
      @queenfubi Před 2 lety +3

      The heartland is underserved

    • @redline1916
      @redline1916 Před rokem +1

      @@queenfubi Because our government hates us.

  • @writing_monkey6215
    @writing_monkey6215 Před 2 lety +33

    Thank you for making this. These kinds of places deserve to be remembered.

  • @badkitty101
    @badkitty101 Před 2 lety +7

    You can see the love that people put into their homes. Its eerie that its all just left to nature now. The way that he spoke of his home of 40 years. Feel so bad for him losing all those memories in the home.

  • @Littlepea2890
    @Littlepea2890 Před 2 lety +43

    Ive always been fascinated by abandoned homes and neighborhoods and have often wondered how they got that way. This was very interesting- it makes me wonder how many other stories there are just like this one.

  • @craigathonian
    @craigathonian Před 2 lety +172

    I am just in total shock ! Where are the representatives for this town, county, or state ? All the Americans taxes are supposed to be there for an emergency like this. No, life isn't supposed to go on like this in the USA. There is something really corrupt going on here. Thanks for making this. This shows the darker side of USA where good working people who don't believe in being the loudest squeaky wheel get screwed by the system. How much money did these people allow the government to take out of their checks for the insurance of something like this happening. Really makes me sick !

    • @jarvislarson6864
      @jarvislarson6864 Před 2 lety +18

      And lets go brandon wants to give illegals 6figures for being detained separated when they came illegally!
      F Democrat's....Americans first period

    • @flowerchild3686
      @flowerchild3686 Před 2 lety +9

      This is all because of Gov. Walker.

    • @virginiaeckley3047
      @virginiaeckley3047 Před 2 lety +15

      You can't trust FEMA or the Representatives or the Government

    • @kenosabi
      @kenosabi Před 2 lety +13

      Too busy sending em to Pakistan for gender studies (I shit you not). Basically our aid elsewhere is just money laundering on a massive and international level.

    • @domusdebellum3042
      @domusdebellum3042 Před 2 lety +18

      @@jarvislarson6864 how much did trump do to help these folks? maybe they can move and get jobs at that huge brand new foxconn plant.

  • @joshuareiley9853
    @joshuareiley9853 Před 2 lety +59

    This is truly heartbreaking...I have never heard of this before. I hope and pray these people and families will be compensated enough to start a new life... Not in some apartment.

  • @kevinnagel68
    @kevinnagel68 Před 2 lety +6

    That home owner.. totally “Salt of the Earth” Wisconsinite… much respect

  • @TheDopeMemeSupply
    @TheDopeMemeSupply Před rokem +23

    This is terrible I’m born and raised in Milwaukee and I’ve never heard about this town. As a Wisconsinite it was heartbreaking to hear that man’s story 40 years in a house of memories gone. Every family deals with it eventually my heart goes out to all the cheeseheads affected😢

    • @nolmanimates3031
      @nolmanimates3031 Před rokem +1

      Cheeseheads strong

    • @cunit80
      @cunit80 Před rokem

      They only care about blm. That's why u didn't hear it.

    • @brewcitymike1
      @brewcitymike1 Před rokem

      Same here. Never heard a word about this (or at least not enough coverage to make a mark in my mind).

    • @tylerbooks7217
      @tylerbooks7217 Před 7 měsíci

      its just a couple streets of the city

  • @PhillyCh3zSt3ak
    @PhillyCh3zSt3ak Před 2 lety +40

    I live in Wisconsin and I recall the horror stories of the residents in the area surrounding Elroy. It's like one of those moments of sudden rememberance too. People talking about how their sump pump holes and drains started bubling up with flooding in water. And that church is one of the more beautiful ones too.

  • @sams9466
    @sams9466 Před 2 lety +63

    Thank you for allowing this community to share their voice. Hopefully, something will come from it. These families lost everything

    • @joelspringman7748
      @joelspringman7748 Před 2 lety

      Infuriatingly, we'd rather help our enemies than hard-working loyal Americans.

  • @mista414
    @mista414 Před 2 lety +51

    Pretty heartbreaking for those people and families.

  • @ExploringwithWade
    @ExploringwithWade Před 3 lety +42

    Thank you for sharing this. A really great video. Feel really bad for all the people. Very sad but thanks for getting their story out. 👍

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 3 lety +4

      Thanks wade 🙏 a lot of people don’t have voices in towns like this

  • @erinmcdonald7781
    @erinmcdonald7781 Před 2 lety +51

    Wow! Hopefully some good will come from you raising awareness about this situation. These people deserve better. FEMA needs to resolve their part, which should've been handled much quicker.
    Good journalism! 💜✊

    • @rebeccaspellmeyer5761
      @rebeccaspellmeyer5761 Před 2 lety

      They probability didn't qualify.

    • @mumuspain2086
      @mumuspain2086 Před 2 lety +1

      I've lived in an area that was declared an emergency zone when there was an ice storm. Trees collapsed blocking roads, the power was out for like 2 weeks, stores were closed... FEMA did nothing xD. I think they trucked in generators for certain areas but my town didn't get any power til the power company fixed their stuff

    • @Arbitraryusername
      @Arbitraryusername Před rokem

      FEMA is not flood insurance.

  • @LiL.Pixxie
    @LiL.Pixxie Před 2 lety +11

    It is so tragic and breaks my heart. This is what it looks like after major hurricanes (I live in Florida). Sometimes there is so much structural damage the house is condemned and they have to leave everything behind. When houses are flooded it becomes a soup of everything imaginable. It is so heart wrenching to see exactly what we see down here after these storms happen way up north, just a different set of circumstances. I know that feeling of "what do I do now?" The stress is overwhelming. These incidents should have been covered more closely and these residents deserve help

  • @gertrudewinchel3058
    @gertrudewinchel3058 Před 2 lety +5

    Thanks for taking the time to show what this area is still dealing with.

  • @tommywonder3485
    @tommywonder3485 Před 3 lety +42

    It appeared to be a very beautiful place to live before the devastating flood. Sad.

  • @fanaticat1
    @fanaticat1 Před 2 lety +9

    I live in central NJ, which was hit hard by Super storm Sandy in 2012. A number of people lost their homes, just like here, and they're still suffering to this day...

  • @tenbroeck1958
    @tenbroeck1958 Před 2 lety +7

    As a father who bought an old house and fixed it up for my family, my heart breaks for these folks.

  • @pebbleman54
    @pebbleman54 Před 2 lety +15

    Elroy is still thriving town but Franklin St is right next to the Baraboo River and a large wetland area. Strong summer rains make the Baraboo grow over it banks often. Tho the 2008/2018 floods were the worst for sure. I haven't been back home in a while but it's rough to see how that area of the town is disappearing especially the Luthern church.

  • @TommysHouseOfMunch
    @TommysHouseOfMunch Před 2 lety +13

    I used to live here, i had no idea this happened. I loved that town

  • @MOMMYANDBOOBOO2
    @MOMMYANDBOOBOO2 Před 2 lety +5

    Before Back in like ninety- six when was like an eight year old child living at the Valley Trailer Park of Clatskanie, Oregon we'd been awoken by our parents in basically the complete middle of the night to at least waist- high water packed full of all of our belongings floating by in order to basically wade over to a bit of higher grounds due to a big ole flood that ended up completely blowing away the damn as well but completely understand what those people been through for real!! 🥰🥰

  • @Subgunman
    @Subgunman Před 2 lety +16

    Having worked in construction for many years, we worked on several homes that lost concrete block basement walls to hydrostatic pressure build up from bad downspouts drains.
    This was the best selling point to individuals or families wanting to build a new home. 10 to 12 inch thick concrete walls simultaneously poured with the basement slab makes for a secure basement from flooding. With proper reinforcing these walls can withstand pressures from flooding. As for basement windows the forming and pouring of concrete wells is highly recommended while walls are being poured. Drainage system will be needed for the wells.
    As nice as it is, don't build on low lying land or in flood zones, the government will never help. All broken promises.

    • @dknowles60
      @dknowles60 Před 2 lety +1

      i glad you tell it like it is. i like the bottom of your state ment dont build in flood plains. just learned something never knew concrete could be poured that way

  • @MsKallie123
    @MsKallie123 Před 2 lety +4

    Thank you for showing us the church! Such incredible history and such a glorious church. That altar is wonderful🙌🏼

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 2 lety +1

      Right!

    • @eastwind6820
      @eastwind6820 Před 2 lety

      That church is so very, very German! Looks like the one near Minden in NRW where my ancestors were baptized and wed! The church in Addieville, IL where my ancestors settled built a very German church like the one in lovely Elroy.

  • @Willowtree82
    @Willowtree82 Před 2 lety +43

    This is incredibly sad, that man seen the home his children grew up in and he lived in for 40 years wiped out and he still visits

  • @Adriana-hp1eh
    @Adriana-hp1eh Před 2 lety +18

    Very interesting coming across this. Not long ago I was looking at some properties in Elroy via the internet and got to wondering about the obvious flood damage signs in the photos. Guess I know why now.

  • @katm5903
    @katm5903 Před 2 lety +17

    Man, my heart breaks for him

  • @ricktt03
    @ricktt03 Před 3 lety +4

    Getting better every video. Great editing, narrative and content. 👍👍

  • @kimberlycarpenter7667
    @kimberlycarpenter7667 Před 2 lety +4

    This happened to us in 2008 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. WE lost our home and our entire neighborhood. Now it is a urban campground because nothing can be built on the land again. Our neighborhood has been gone for years, so its surprising to see this town left standing.

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 2 lety

      That's astonishing. Stuff like this happens so often it's surreal

  • @riddim5317
    @riddim5317 Před 2 lety +8

    I absolutely loved the blade runner blues intro sent chills down my spine hearing that again!

  • @graveadventures6938
    @graveadventures6938 Před 2 měsíci

    Great job with editing, interviews and backstory. Excellent story teller!

  • @rileykittendorf
    @rileykittendorf Před 2 lety

    I didn’t even know about this. It’s a real eye opener when we can see footage like this. It’s a very lonely feeling there now and I can’t imagine having to wait on fema like this. That man had over 40 years in his home and is still waiting. Sad. Great footage and thank you for posting !

  • @Dollyspartan97
    @Dollyspartan97 Před 3 lety +33

    I live in this town, its an amazing town with wonderful people.
    Another town you could do a video on is wonewoc wi there a ton of abandon houses downtown from the flood. Or viola/readstown wi.

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 3 lety +5

      I’ve been to wonewoc but I didn’t see too many houses. Same with those other ones. Not sure what you mean. And yeah it’s quite sad seeing these floods do this to people. Nearly tested up while editing this video

    • @Dollyspartan97
      @Dollyspartan97 Před 3 lety +4

      @@StringerMedia I was born/raised here so I know tons of abandon places either due to flood, fires or just they simply passed away. Would love to see more abandon home videos in the area.

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 3 lety +6

      @@Dollyspartan97 comment some of the addresses or where to find them and I will take my bike out there this winter break. I found a school in west Lima but that’s it so far

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 3 lety +2

      @@Dollyspartan97 you wanna get back to me? Leaving soon

    • @RoadsofFaith
      @RoadsofFaith Před 2 lety

      And Rock Springs....not much left of that town anymore....the houses and most businesses are gone and replaced with grass. It is also along the Baraboo River.

  • @mikesahle1193
    @mikesahle1193 Před 3 lety +4

    Thank you 🙏 i hope 🤞 they will rise again so beautiful 😍 place full of green 👌❤️

  • @Linus007
    @Linus007 Před 2 lety +2

    Thank you for posting. I rode the bicycle trail between Elroy and Sparta Wisconsin. Elroy was a nice town.

  • @r.aubrey3481
    @r.aubrey3481 Před 2 měsíci

    Listening to that gentleman discuss his experience thru this situation… Makes me incredibly grateful to have not gone thru this. Never know what could happen to your home. Sending those families all the love and good energy thru this nightmare. 🖤

  • @1exkyman
    @1exkyman Před 2 lety +12

    So very sad that our government seems to care nothing about these people whether local, state or federal. Why?

    • @dknowles60
      @dknowles60 Před 2 lety

      what do you want the fed gov to do, the only thing i can see is pay then for their loss and do what grand forks nd DID TURN THE LAND IN TO A PARK

  • @johngrier4114
    @johngrier4114 Před 2 lety +7

    The tower part is called a widows peek..So sad to see the the two older gentleman not wanting to let go of memory’s

  • @brucebeamon5460
    @brucebeamon5460 Před 2 lety +1

    Interesting and well done including the information as to what happened ....Nice music too !

  • @lklpalka
    @lklpalka Před 2 lety +8

    Your heart aches for this man and family, families. So sorry

  • @glennavellino1172
    @glennavellino1172 Před 2 lety +10

    What a tragedy, how did this place flood like that. I'm glad they were people that you could talk to to find out more of what happened.

  • @thewisconsinfiles
    @thewisconsinfiles Před 2 lety +4

    You were so kind and respectful. How devastating, mother nature has no mercy.

  • @rick15666
    @rick15666 Před 2 lety +1

    Very well done video man, appreciate it.

  • @KristyMatuszak-kw1fz
    @KristyMatuszak-kw1fz Před 9 měsíci

    God be with everyone affected. Thank you so much for sharing this

  • @CookingWithCrocker
    @CookingWithCrocker Před 2 lety +4

    In 2016 to 2017 I lived in Kendall WI. I worked at Walker stainless in Elroy WI. I eventually moved closer to the end of 2017. Crazy to see how much it's changed I remember those streets and houses and it's just a sad situation. There was alot of flooding in Monroe County from the same storms. The town of Leon was also under water.

  • @marshaflorom8401
    @marshaflorom8401 Před 2 lety +9

    God bless this man ! I am sorry for those problems! I sounded like Waverly in Tennessee!

  • @samplautz5586
    @samplautz5586 Před rokem +2

    I live in baraboo which is probably an hour or so from Elroy. We had terrible flooding in 2008. I was only 7, but I remember walking down a park in the river and we walked through part of the river because it flooded so much into the land. We had mudslides too, I saw a shed almost completely buried in mud

  • @tera1755
    @tera1755 Před 2 lety +1

    These poor people. I’m so sorry to all that went through this. You try to build a life and circumstances rip your efforts apart. While we see buildings, the previous residents see so many memories lost.

  • @DavidStruveDesigns
    @DavidStruveDesigns Před 2 lety +67

    It constantly amazes me how councils and States allow properties to be built next to or near a river and are then completely caught off-guard and surprised when the river floods and damages/destroys those properties. Does nobody bother to do any research before authorizing an area to be built on in regards building on potential flood planes? Sure it might be a super rare flood, but if the risk is above 0% you gotta address that. Flood defenses, build houses on stilts so the flood goes under rather than through properties. It's not like it's rocket science really. And properly compensate those who bought/built a house never knowing it was at risk of this for pete's sake!! We have this EXACT same problem in the North of the UK and it's becoming more common, sadly.

    • @skie6282
      @skie6282 Před 2 lety +1

      Hey we have regulations! You just can built within like 100 feet of the water :) all good! Lol

    • @renardtempleton
      @renardtempleton Před 2 lety

      Yeah I feel the same way with the west coast burning every year

    • @filthyapostate4217
      @filthyapostate4217 Před 2 lety +1

      Houses in Grafton, Il are built right next to the Mighty Mississippi. On stilts. It's freaking cool!

    • @RLS-bu4bj
      @RLS-bu4bj Před 2 lety +1

      They are supposed to built in a way to minimize damage. But the National Flood Insurance Progam was started in the late 60s and anything built before 1975 didn't have to follow code

    • @tiredoldmechanic1791
      @tiredoldmechanic1791 Před 2 lety

      I see this is from a year ago in 2020. This must have been the flood in 2018. I'm shocked to find out that FEMA was poorly run at that time. If you live in a flood plain, you need flood insurance. Too many people don't buy it. They changed the way they handle flood insurance. When flood insurance pays out you have to move. Many years ago, the Wisconsin village of Soldiers Grove moved the entire town to avoid the flooding that happened so often.

  • @TheBlankJoker
    @TheBlankJoker Před 2 lety +8

    I used to live really close to the Yellow River in Wisconsin. My dad always talked about how if a flooding ever happened our house would be fine since we were on a hill. Where most houses roofs started was the bottom of ours.

    • @joelspringman7748
      @joelspringman7748 Před 2 lety +1

      I hope he had a boat, as well, in order not to be stuck high and dry.

  • @toobytah
    @toobytah Před 2 lety +1

    Wow that’s so cool that you happened to get an interview with that guy. Wish you had gotten his name. So interesting to think of all the stories from the town that may get forgotten.

  • @Ohwhale79
    @Ohwhale79 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I've been here!!! Many times! I actually had no idea there were so many abandoned homes!. But I lived very close to here in Wisconsin during the first flood and it was CRAZY! Just found your channel, interesting stuff!

  • @gutsngorrrr
    @gutsngorrrr Před 2 lety +4

    This is so sad, I can't imagine being in that situation, losing everything and still getting no compensation.

  • @aintyobiznass8153
    @aintyobiznass8153 Před 2 lety +26

    Would have like to have known more history about the town and why FEMA hasn't paid out for these people? Why hasn't the city or county or state gone after the government for the funds?

    • @michaelhancock9636
      @michaelhancock9636 Před 2 lety +14

      Well because when has the government ever done what they said they are going to do? People need to stop relying on government to save them because it's never going to work that way.

    • @MikeTyson913
      @MikeTyson913 Před 2 lety

      🤣

    • @bradbroemmer9085
      @bradbroemmer9085 Před 2 lety +8

      FEMA, like this Green Energy crap, is a scam to steal the taxes we pay into.

    • @cameronbooker445
      @cameronbooker445 Před 2 lety

      Aighnt yo business...

  • @quadstatecameras
    @quadstatecameras Před 2 lety +16

    I think these people will continue to wait. I have heard that there are still area in Louisiana basically just abandoned after Hurricane Katrina. My dad used to have a farm in Elroy. I believe in the 70's, he applied to have a dike put on his property. The army corps of engineers came out and said it would help benefit the area to prevent flooding. It allowed him to have a man made pond on the property and thus doubled the value. Not sure how they came to that conclusion about the benefit cause if the pond got to full the overflow would go down a pipe into a wooded valley that was uninhabited. #quadstatecameras

    • @MiguelAngel-kz5ku
      @MiguelAngel-kz5ku Před 2 lety

      I work in federal disaster aide it's all up to the president and the state to declare a federal disaster and authorize the right kind of aide the part that sucks is some counties just don't get opened up for the aide they need or are just outside the area authorized

  • @harleycynofficial
    @harleycynofficial Před 2 lety +2

    Saddest urban exploration I've seen. Nothing quite like the sorrow that comes from an area left to rot that could have been saved. I feel for the residents who had to abandon their homes. So sad.

  • @sharylgrangaard8484
    @sharylgrangaard8484 Před 2 lety +5

    Well I was born in Reedsburg, spent every summer with my grandparents in Wonewoc,my aunt and uncle lived in Elroy,it was run down even in the 60s

  • @jamiemikkelson3583
    @jamiemikkelson3583 Před rokem +3

    This is so sad. We need to be helping our own citizens instead of all the other countries.

    • @jillsmcfarland2001
      @jillsmcfarland2001 Před 10 měsíci

      Thats false belief the money given buy uneducated and or trusting is used for more Atrocities against humanity

  • @wolfmancole1908
    @wolfmancole1908 Před 2 lety +1

    Native Texan but lived in Appleton Wisco for over 2 years. Did a 80ish mi Elroy to Sparta cycle loop, “there and back” starting in Elroy (2019) Rode the last 20mi pretty much at night due to my poor planning lol and didnt have a light. just my Iphone light LOL. I remember riding getting close to Elroy in the pitch black and the trail just like gave out and i flew on the ground. Luckily it was soft dirt. The trail had been completely washed out and i wasn’t sure why. I fell a couple more times that night and to make it more fun it started to drizzle. Shortly after i said screw the trail and hope on the adjacent road. It all makes sense now. Thanks for the upload. I enjoyed living in Wisconsin

  • @Jasonoid
    @Jasonoid Před 2 lety +1

    Hoping this video will help bring light to the issue, thanks for sharing.

  • @MJorgy5
    @MJorgy5 Před 2 lety +7

    Amazing that no one has pumped the water from the basements.

  • @bmwpete65s55
    @bmwpete65s55 Před 2 lety +7

    Peter Egan, the Road and Track and Cycle World writer was raised in Elroy. Sad to hear the town is in such sad shape.

  • @megd6343
    @megd6343 Před 2 lety +2

    This is so sad . Never heard about this before. America needs to do better. Praying for all these people

  • @RonLaws
    @RonLaws Před 2 lety +1

    really sad to see, it's so much more personal too hearing from some of the locals who were affected by this still around picking up the pieces so long after the disaster. hope they catch a break sooner rather than later.

  • @variousengineering1965
    @variousengineering1965 Před 2 lety +4

    Never thought of Wisconsin having a flooding issue before, until now. Crazy.

  • @dwarden3
    @dwarden3 Před 2 lety +3

    My experience with fema is that they're great until the emergency is over then you are ON YOUR OWN. Things I have learned are 1. You can only depend on yourself at the end of the day. 2. Get the proper insurance coverage and a damn good agent. 3.Never buy any dwelling in any type of flood plane(renting is ok). Most importantly is that it is just stuff, you can get more stuff. People and pets should be the most important things you grab on the way out.

  • @stalkerstomper3304
    @stalkerstomper3304 Před 2 lety +1

    Exceptional presentation!

  • @suzannebirkholz8757
    @suzannebirkholz8757 Před 2 lety +2

    Oh wow, I live in WI and don't recall hearing about the devastation these floods caused. Thanks for the information.

  • @ladyalli64
    @ladyalli64 Před 3 lety +11

    My heart breaks for that guy....

  • @annahgibbus8
    @annahgibbus8 Před 3 lety +6

    Oh my gosh I couldn't wait for this video because I had a gut feeling it would be very valuable to me, and it was!
    #1 My deepest Blessings to that man and everybody who lost their homes and town🙏❤️🙏
    #2 I'm buying a home an hour away from this town and flood probability is low, but I didn't believe that because there's lakes and water all around it!
    The realtor said I wouldn't need flood insurance, but I'm going to insure it to the max now!
    I forgot which flood it was 3-5 years ago in Texas and a woman lost her $700,000.00 house and had flood insurance!
    I'll be sure that doesn't happen to me and be sure to understand all clauses like the woman with the expensive house missed and she got nothing for her totally lost house!
    Thanks so much for this video!
    Perfect timing 🙏❤️🙏
    Gosh what a waste of a darling little town.
    There's no such thing as to much insurance. Yikes!

    • @annahgibbus8
      @annahgibbus8 Před 3 lety +2

      Lol reminds me of the Fried Green Tomatoes movie after Kathy Bates smashes the snotty girls cars in a parking lot: I'm Older and Have More Insurance 😁
      Go ahead and call me Karen LMBO 🤣

    • @StringerMedia
      @StringerMedia  Před 3 lety +3

      Glad I could help. Interesting story 😀

    • @annahgibbus8
      @annahgibbus8 Před 3 lety +2

      @@StringerMedia yup thanks so much and I just got off the phone with Allstate ❤️😁👍
      It's so sad because many people buy cars or homes and don't include whatever disaster comes up and lose everything!
      Like what's going on now and people losing their businesses or homes or apartments because they've been off work for months. People just don't consider a totally unexpected money pit problem.
      Remember that Dear
      Love,
      Granny❤️😁👍

    • @annahgibbus8
      @annahgibbus8 Před 3 lety

      Lol like Scarlett O'Hare in Gone with the Wind: As God as my witness I'll never be poor again 💃!
      Not rich now, but I'm definitely not going to lose what I got. Lol

    • @annahgibbus8
      @annahgibbus8 Před 3 lety +1

      & like the other commentor somewhere here saying FEMA is evil, yup and they won't do anything. They say my new home/ old home but new to me isn't in a flood zone and baloney 🤨🙄🤥
      Nope don't trust them at all.

  • @ElveeKaye
    @ElveeKaye Před rokem

    "Forty years of memories." That is so incredibly sad, and it happens all the time whenever homes are lost to fire, flood, earthquakes, or other causes. I hope the were able to save the items in that cute little church.

  • @LaurenSchraderMusic
    @LaurenSchraderMusic Před 2 lety +1

    Fantastic video, subscribed

  • @mikebar42
    @mikebar42 Před 2 lety +9

    This is what happens when public officials take bribes... Proper surveys don't get done and things get built on flood plains...

  • @terrybizzle9027
    @terrybizzle9027 Před 2 lety +27

    Why building in flood zones is allowed to begin with is always amazing to me. You might like the view until the river floods your house.

    • @Dean-oh4pi
      @Dean-oh4pi Před 2 lety

      I mean at least be prepared

    • @slowbra94
      @slowbra94 Před 2 lety +1

      I'm from south central Louisiana and down here if you want to stay where your from or around your family you have to live in a flood zone. My brother built a 10 foot hill to build his house on or else they could not insure it. We made it through Katrina. The 2016 flood. And about 2 hurricanes a year. It seems weird if you aren't from here but you almost get used to it. I've been pulling people out of their houses and swimming in flood waters as long as I can remember. The 2016 flood water was 10 feet high outside my house and they not only refused to evacuate us but the national guard gave us 3 hours warning before they left the area and would not come back to help

  • @danielleschiazza6172
    @danielleschiazza6172 Před 5 měsíci

    This is sad. It's a beautiful little town. Even now that it is abandoned, it looks like it was a great place to live. It's sunny and gorgeous there! I love little towns like that.

  • @uoenoit8061
    @uoenoit8061 Před 2 lety

    Its nice to see nature reclaimed everywhere i wish america looked like that since I was a kid

  • @MrBurleyfish
    @MrBurleyfish Před 2 lety +12

    I am sure the removal of the dam system from the Baraboo river has lots to do with why the flooding happened.

    • @rodshop5897
      @rodshop5897 Před 2 lety +1

      "I am sure the removal of the dam system from the Baraboo river has lots to do with why the flooding happened." Well, just cause you are sure does not make it truth. What's your support of your position?

    • @MrBurleyfish
      @MrBurleyfish Před 2 lety +3

      @@rodshop5897 Umm less control over the flow of water. There has been many areas that never used to flood until atfer they removed the dams. But i guess it starts with knowing what a dam does and why they were built to start with.

    • @rodshop5897
      @rodshop5897 Před 2 lety +3

      @@MrBurleyfish "it starts with knowing what a dam does and why they were built to start with." Oh, I agree, and have done just that.
      From a well-researched and written article about the specific dams along the Baraboo river, "The dams along the Baraboo River were not flood control structures. Of Wisconsin’s 3,800 dams, only about 200 serve as flood control structures. Had they been in place during the most recent floods of 2008, the dams along the Baraboo River would have been
      completely overtopped. Furthermore,
      the strength of floodwaters could have
      possibly led to a dam failure."
      The more you know, right?

    • @MrBurleyfish
      @MrBurleyfish Před 2 lety +1

      @Acer Acres I beg to differ and think you are very very wrong ...What dams are you talking about that failed? Because there are no dams left on the Baraboo river and it is 100% free flowing. They removed all the dams from the Baraboo river system in 1997 through 2002 then in 2008 low and behold the river flooded out many buildings and other areas along the river. Highway 33 between Portage and Baraboo got washed out I drover through the mess as it was happening and seen water almost to the top of the gas pumps where 33 and I90 cross.

    • @rodshop5897
      @rodshop5897 Před 2 lety

      @Acer Acres "I read a couple articles about that whole thing and you're very incorrect." Well, you seem to be arguing in my favor. Yes, the dams previously along the river were not designed for flood control, and did not provide safety from floods. That was my point, and indeed what I read in articles about the Baraboo river dams.
      I never discussed whether or not people should be compensated.
      "Government stupidity didn't just start yesterday" Agreed, people have been doing stupid things for as long as there have been people.

  • @trashrabbit69
    @trashrabbit69 Před 3 lety +24

    Untenable situation these folks are in. This was around the same time in 2018 my area in Black Earth/Mazomanie got POUNDED by a stationary system right on the edge of the front that spawned these same floods. Western Dane County turned into an island, pretty much all of the major routes for the towns were flooded or washed out. Too many towns like this in the Midwest are simply forgotten, especially after major natural disasters.

  • @bonnieharris8112
    @bonnieharris8112 Před 2 lety +2

    I'm so sorry for the people in this town. That would be rough.

  • @Indygrandma56
    @Indygrandma56 Před 2 lety +1

    Wow..so sorry for this man and family and all families involved

  • @ambkbero2
    @ambkbero2 Před 2 lety +3

    We live in WI and remember this. So sorry this happened.

  • @andrewbrendan1579
    @andrewbrendan1579 Před 2 lety +6

    As I was seeing the deserted town I was reminded of 'Salem's Lot in the Stephen King novel of the same name. Then I saw the name Kaiser Glick. In the novel there was a family named Glick. I sometimes imagine the town where I live as an abandoned place; it would be fascinating to be there alone and exploring after the people were gone---and before wolves and mountain lions returned!

    • @LynxStarAuto
      @LynxStarAuto Před 2 lety

      This isn't a Stephen King novel, it's real life where ppl lost a lot. 🤔

    • @andrewbrendan1579
      @andrewbrendan1579 Před 2 lety +1

      @@LynxStarAuto Yes. I realize that.

  • @nancytraver9709
    @nancytraver9709 Před 2 lety +1

    I remember this all to well. I lived in Elroy in 2008 when the flood happened. Water was over waist high. I volunteered to help sandbag.

  • @elenafetter9690
    @elenafetter9690 Před 2 lety +1

    Wow...so sorry for these folks struggling. So scary and dangerous. Heartbreaking.