STORM DAMAGE "We've lost everything" From the Globe of August 25th, 2007

Sudden flooding damages home in north Dodge

The flower bed on the northwest side of the Kecks' house on Cannery Row had collapsed. What was once solid ground became a funnel, sending cascading water underneath the foundation. Then, the basement cracked.

Several feet of water began to pour into the basement, soaking stuffed animals, damaging books and smearing photographs.
Spider-like cracks snaked up the upstairs’ walls.

During the cool muggy Friday afternoon, friends and family members of the Kecks were caked in mud, hauling damaged possessions out of the basement. A pile of water-logged mementos slowly built up on their driveway.

The Kecks worked on drying out photographs that had been damaged.

"We've lost everything," April said. "There's no carpet, there's not anything."

The Kecks' insurance doesn't cover floods, either. So, although they'll try their best to repair the house, April said the financial blow was substantial.

"This was basically my dream home," she said. "And now it's gone."
They aren't about to abandon the home, though. Brian said they were staying in the house as they attempted to salvage what they could. He said the had no electricity or air conditioning.

While the Kecks discovered their house was flooding, the fire department was responding to a 911 call from Third Avenue. Three people were trapped in their car as it floated down the street-turned-river.

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There have been numerous incidences of homeowners having water in their basement. Not just a little water. We are talking of several inches of rain and a flooded basement.

What do they have in common? These homes are all on Foxfire. Over 90% are built too low. They are all built by Volz Builders.

What is going to be done about this? Does anyone think that this is the last home on Foxfire that is going to flood? These homeowners need to do what the Builder did not. They need to get together, hire a engineer and design a storm water drainage system that will protect their homes.

Furthermore, the City of Dodge needs to inspect each and every home that Tim Volz builds to make sure that the structure is high enough. That the home has positive drainage in place and to make sure that no more “shortcuts” are allowed in the construction of the house.

As a homeowner, I just wish there was a way to make Volz Builders make all these corrections and have to pay for this. Fat chance.