Carroll County News

The floodgates at Beaver Dam were opened again last week as Beaver Lake levels rose even higher because of rainfall throughout the area.

This was the third time since mid-March the gates have been activated.

Water levels in the White River and in Table Rock Lake downstream from the dam have remained high since a 9.5 foot floodgate release on April 10.

Water has continued to cover much of the Beaver RV park and little "Golden Gate" bridge since that episode.

Alan Bland, a park ranger with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, said the floodgates were opened this time after there was 1.9 inches of rain recorded in the White River Basin on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 23.

With rain continuing to fall and rainfall amounts reported at six inches in some areas, all seven floodgates at Beaver Dam were opened a half-foot each at 2:30 a.m. Thursday and gradually opened to 1.5 feet each by 7:30 a.m.

Floodgates were opened at Table Rock Dam as well.

"All 10 gates were open one foot at Table Rock," Bland said. "Combined with generation, it was releasing 28,200 cubic-feet of water per second."

He said at Beaver Dam that figure was 20,150 cubic-feet of water per second, which was the combination of generation and floodgate release.

As of Thursday morning, April 2, he said Beaver Lake was at 1,129.73 feet, just shy of its maximum flood pool of 1,130.

Door-to-door alert

Residents below the dam were told on Monday, April 21, to be on the alert. Sheriff Bob Grudek, along with several of his staffers and local Office of Emergency Management personnel went door-to-door to spread the word based on the potential for additional rainfall throughout the week.

One of those residents was Virginia Pozza, who says she never wants anyone to go through what she's experienced the past few weeks.

Pozza's home was flooded by White River waters when the floodgates at Beaver Dam were opened to record levels April 10.

She said she's staying at a friend's cabin instead of her home because federal officials told her not to repair until the rainy season and the potential for additional flooding is past.

Repairs however are in question, she said, because she doesn't know if she'll get federal disaster relief funding.

County decision is crucial

It all depends on the county quorum court, she said.

"Carroll County has to apply for the federal flood insurance plan. That is the only way FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) will give us funds, other than rental assistance."

FEMA officials confirmed Pozza's statement by saying it encourages participation in the National Flood Insurance Program because "no federal financial assistance can be provided for the permanent repair or reconstruction of insurable buildings," without the program.

"People in Carroll County don't realize they aren't covered," Pozza remarked.

She said her home was built above what the Corps of Engineers recommended.

"We talked with the Corps and looked at their maps. We are not in the Corps flood plain. The Corps said 'we only have authorization to flood to the 936 line.' We went to 943. The house is five feet off the ground and the water was three feet deep in the house."

If the quorum court applies for the federal flood insurance plan and she receives FEMA funding, Pozza said she plans to raise her house another eight feet.

"If FEMA money comes, then we can raise it and repair. The house is only a year old.

"I don't want others to suffer as I have," she added. "There are lessons to be learned."