Those of you who lived in Brookfield anywhere along Underwood Creek or the
Dousman ditch in 1997 and 1998 probably have vivid memories of sewer backup and
high water surrounding your house. I know Sandy and I do. I was out of town
during the 1997 flood. But I recall the panic in Sandy's voice when she called
to tell me about it. I also remember the expense of cleanup afterward. In 1998,
I remember having to park my car high up on Santa Barbara Drive and walking to
my house in water up to my chest from Pomona Road nearly to the end of
Clearwater. The Underwood Creek overflowed that much. The water from the creek
and rain came so close to the houses on our block we made the news on Channels
4 and 12. The current was so hard it washed away all the topsoil in our back
yard. Sandy still has anxiety attacks whenever it rains.
After the 100 year flood in 1997 and the 500 year flood in 1998, I
participated in a group formed by the City of Brookfield and the Village of Elm
Grove called the Underwood Creek Task Force. The Task Force spent a great deal
of time learning why the flooding happened and what could be done about it. We
gave our recommendations to the Council. Tom Grisa of the Engineering Department, who
helped develop those plans, said he would implement them as quickly as possible
to avoid this happening again.
Well, folks, it appears it has happened again. So what will the engineering
department at Brookfield City Hall designate this one - a 1,000 year flood? And
what happened to all those plans that were made to abate the flooding? Nothing
has been done for over nine years. So here I am at 2:30 in the morning, in a
house surrounded by water. And even though I installed a sewer backup blocking
valve, my basement is flooded once again. The majority of the water is from the
overflowing Underwood Creek. The same creek we were told that would not
overflow once the plans the Underwood Creek Task Force were put into
effect. I think the time has come.
