BEAVERTON/HOPE AREA STORIES
The Smith Family
By Mallory Fini
Alyssa Smith and her family sold everything to move to their waterfront home on Wixom Lake in 2018. Alyssa, her husband, and three children spent every moment they could fishing, boating, and swimming in the lake from their residence in Beaverton, Michigan. In May of 2020, the lives of the Smith family, as well as the lives of many other mid-Michigan families, changed drastically when heavy rains caused several dam failures in their area. These dam failures caused bodies of water such as Wixom Lake, Sanford Lake, and the Tittabawassee River to flood, wiping out roads and bridges in the process. Wixom Lake and Sanford Lake have since receded, leaving behind only sand, weeds, and rubble.
Families within those communities lost so much. Some lost their boats, docks, and break walls while others lost their homes, livelihoods, and trust in the powers that be. The Smith family feels as though no one outside the affected communities cares about, or even remembers, what happened to them in the Spring of 2020. Despite the many community-based task forces attempting to make change in the area, the Smiths feel that families and businesses within these mid-Michigan communities have not received the answers and outside support that they deserve in order to rebuild and restore their communities.
Thomas Phillips Story
By Mateo Sallade
Thomas Phillips has been living in Beaverton Michigan for years. When he was younger he used to play football with friends and face off against Central Michigan University rivals. He has one daughter who he had with his ex-wife. He is a quiet man but is cheerful to everyone he meets. He is the vice president of his local gun club and is always happy when his daughter drives down for a visit.
After the flood, many people in the neighborhood lost their water pumps or wells. Thomas was put on a list to receive a new one, which was only just delivered on November 4, 2020. Many other are still waiting for theirs. His daughter was able to hire some help in order to repair the house. They hope to finish the house by December. Luckily, he has a small heater in his camper that keeps his warm for now.
Thomas Phillips and many other lost a lot during the flood. Money, memories, and other specials items. This doesn’t keep Thomas Phillips down. He is still making the most of his days, but hopes to have a warm home for the winter. A small camper isn’t ideal but there are many who are still living in tents. “I hope everyone stays safe out there,” said Phillips “We can’t forget people who are still struggling.”
PHOTO FROM THOMAS PHILLiPS
The Broka Family
Lynn and Charles Broka age 62 and 78 of Hope, MI have been told over and over again that their place shouldn’t have been hit by the flood.
“We have been denied by FEMA three times.” Lynn Broka, said.
However they were affected by the flood. The family owns two houses just a little ways down from Wixom lake. Both houses flooded this past May. One of those homes was made by Broka’s grandpa years ago.
That house became flooded up to 27 inches making it so the whole house needs to be completely redone on the inside. Not only did it flood, the water also stayed there for four days due to it not being able to drain away.
“We have pictures and videos of it being flooded. We are lucky our neighbor went around with his boat and took them.” Broka, said.
The Broka’s haven't been able to get much done because of their age and bad health.
“We’re not dead and gone. It really bothers me that people have left us.” Lynn Broka, said.
Broka is still not sure what they will do about their house for this winter. But, with winter approaching quickly and the house nowhere close to being done it’s easy to believe any reconstruction on the house will have to wait until spring and summer.
By Grace Dowling
The Schweinsberg Family
Janis Sachweinsberg’s life has been full of twists and turns and the floods that hit Mid-Michigan in the summer of 2020 were no exception. Janis is a real estate agent based in Midland. She has lived in the mid-Michigan area for most of her life.
In 2019 Janis bought the home that was to become her family’s summer home from an old family friend who built the house in the 1950s. Her original plan was to help him sell the house so that he can move out and live with his family. Instead, Janis fell in love with the house and spent quite a bit of her savings buying the house and renovating it. Unfortunately, that summer Janis’s family’s new summer home was heavily damaged by the floods in their first year of ownership. With the help of some partial insurance payments and some volunteers, Janis is in the process of rebuilding.
