Many landowners along the Boquet fearfully waited and watched the flood waters and ice flows last March 11. Boquet residents fared better than those living along the AuSable. Even so, says Raymond Thatcher, Essex County Disaster Preparedness director, Whallonsburg suffered personal damage exceeding $70,000. Wadhams had damage to at least two residences, one of which was quite severe, plus loss of some livestock.
Ray Thatcher is still getting reports on flood damage, so his figures are only preliminary estimates. He has not yet received a damage estimate for town and county roads, and highways. Soon he will meet with the Soil Conservation Service to determine possible erosion damage. This, however, is expected to be slight since the ground was still frozen at flood time. Total county-wide damage, by March 19, was estimated at $500,000. That is expected to increase.