Kalona

Flooding across Kalona and much of Washington County a few weeks ago left residents facing extensive damage, lost belongings and weeks of cleanup. 

For several Kalona residents, sewage backed up into their basements, prompting concerns about drainage and calls for answers from the city.

Sandy Marner, who has lived in her home for more than 30 years, said approximately 18 inches of sewage flooded her basement in the early hours of September 20.

Marner was sleeping when she heard an unusual noise. She went downstairs and found brown, murky water filling the basement. When she reached the bathroom, she discovered sewage coming up through the toilet.

“We lost everything in our basement that it touched.”

The speed of the flooding left her feeling helpless.

“It was so devastating and there's nothing you can do to stop it. It was just coming so quickly.”

Items needing immediate replacement included the water heater, furnace, living room furniture and refrigerator.

Marner and her husband, Gary, spent Sunday and Monday cleaning. Both took Monday off work, and she said they got only about two hours of sleep during the cleanup.  

Early Sunday, they drove around Kalona to see who else had been affected. They passed city trucks and spoke with a city worker, who told them homes throughout town had flooded. After returning home, they called Kuenster Plumbing around 3:15 a.m. to pump out their basement.

Despite their exhaustion, the Marners attended Monday’s city council meeting to share their frustrations and ask how another disaster could be prevented.

“I am concerned to make sure that we have the right amount of storm sewers, storm drainages, and they’re not mixing together with sewer because I would feel like they should be different systems.”

KCRG also contacted Marner and arrived at her home within an hour. She was surprised by the quick response and how soon the interview appeared on television and social media.

Her main concern remains preventing another sewage backup.

“I just want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

“I want to make sure people feel comfortable in their homes and want to stay there.”

Natalie Hardman

Kalona resident Natalie Hardman also reported approximately 18 inches of sewage in her basement. Since July, she has dealt with three floods: one in July, another during the September 19–20 flooding and a third about 10 days later.

She has spent the past two weeks cleaning and repairing damage, keeping belongings out of the basement because of the repeated flooding.

“For the last two weeks, I've spent every evening once I finish work anywhere between two to four in the afternoon till basically seven or eight at night pulling stuff from my basement, cleaning and repainting. After the second flood, we had to clean it all again using the same process. Luckily at that point, I didn't have anything down there because I didn't trust anything.”

Each flood brought sewage through the toilet, damaging the bathroom and requiring another thorough cleaning. Hardman estimated total damage at $6,000 to $7,000.

The September flooding left the household’s only shower unusable for approximately two weeks. During that time, they showered at her brother Zach’s home or the Kalona YMCA.

Hardman’s parents live with her, and she was away during two of the three floods. When the first sewage backup occurred, they called late at night, waking her to explain what had happened.

Although the basement is unfinished, sewage reached belongings throughout the space, forcing her to discard many items.

“The entire bathroom was destroyed, and I had to throw out nearly everything inside, along with some wood furniture, shelving and flooring from the main area. I was able to save the metal shelves, tables and chairs, as well as the plastic chairs. Those items just needed to be cleaned and sanitized.”

Insurance will cover some of the damage. Hardman has lived in the home since 2009, and the only comparable flooding before this year occurred in 2013, when the fire department helped pump out the basement.

She hopes the city will investigate the flooding, address drainage and storm-drain maintenance concerns, and provide answers and accountability.

Janet Goss

Janet Goss reported approximately 21 inches of sewage in her basement, nearly two feet.

When she discovered the flooding, she initially thought she was dreaming.

“I went outside to get some fresh air, and when I walked down to the basement, I turned the lights on, and everything I had was floating in the water.”

Goss lives alone, making the damage especially difficult to face. Sewage ruined nearly everything it touched, including the carpet throughout her finished basement.

Only a few items, including photographs hanging on the wall and the television, escaped damage. She lost graduation and baby pictures, her parents’ wedding photographs and other irreplaceable belongings.

Bills, warranties, tax records and other household documents were also destroyed, along with couches, beds, a Christmas tree, furniture and suitcases.

The discarded belongings filled a large trailer. Goss also recorded video of equipment pumping sewage into a ditch near the mobile homes.

She is handling the recovery a little at a time while trying to process what happened. Her sister drove five hours from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to help. A neighbor also assisted, and Goss said they have grown closer during the cleanup.

Paul Davis Restoration removed damaged carpet, insulation and drywall. Although the full cost remains uncertain, Goss estimates damage at $10,000 to $15,000.

She knows other residents are facing similar losses.

“I think something needs to be done because I’m not the only one in this town that’s been devastated by this, and it’s sewer water.”

Goss wants her taxes used to address sewer lines and drains to prevent another disaster.

“I’d rather see my taxes go to take out a sewer line to make sure that this sewer water does not come back in, or fix the drains, put something down in there and do it two or three times.”

She hopes answers and action come soon.

“I just think that something needs to be done, and the sooner the better.”

Meanwhile, she continues putting her home back together, hoping to regain some normalcy.

Red Cross assistance

The Red Cross has assisted residents in Kalona and surrounding communities affected by the flooding. Both Goss and Marner said the organization has been a significant help.

“I can’t say enough good things about them.”

Marner said the Red Cross has contacted her multiple times.

“They’ve been super kind, reaching out to me.”

Residents affected by the flooding, or those who know someone needing assistance, can contact the Red Cross for help.