Lawmaker criticizes Munster flood response

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BY KEITH BENMAN
kbenman@nwitimes.com
219.933.3326 | Monday, September 15, 2008 | (62 comment(s))

Questions already were being raised Sunday as to why Munster's efforts to control Little Calumet River floodwater appeared to lag behind Hammond's effort.

State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, said she and residents were left to wonder why berm construction began on the Hammond side of the Northcote Avenue bridge Saturday night but did not begin on the Munster side until Sunday.

"It was too little, too late," Candelaria Reardon said.

The Hammond-Munster border is delineated by the Little Calumet River, so residents on either side can compare how the neighboring municipality is handling things.

Candelaria Reardon spent much of Sunday sandbagging with residents at the bridge.

In the evening, the town placed the area under an evacuation advisory.

Munster Town Councilman Mike Mellon said he, other town officials and public safety workers monitored from Saturday night into Sunday the northeast corner of town where the bridge is.

"I don't understand the point to her comments," he said when told of Candelaria Reardon's criticisms.

The Hammond Public Works Department began building berms Saturday night along the Little Calumet at Columbia Avenue and at Northcote Avenue, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said.

"I've had people working 36 hours," McDermott said Sunday afternoon. "This will be expensive."

The berms on the Hammond side of Columbia Avenue worked, but McDermott said he watched as water cascaded from the Columbia Avenue area into Munster neighborhoods.

Mellon said the Munster side of the bridge is lower, so water would naturally pour that way.

McDermott made no criticism of Munster's efforts, but offered plenty for the Indiana Department of Transportation regarding the Interstate 80/94 closure.

McDermott was furious Sunday night when he discovered Hammond's Dowling Park and surrounding homes were besieged by a "rushing torrent of water," which he said flowed from the expressway. Highway crews were not pumping water from the road, but something was sending water into the south Hessville neighborhood, McDermott said.

"It's like, oh my God, what are these guys doing to us? They're going to ruin a whole neighborhood," McDermott said.

"It's like a firehose pouring right into our neighborhood," he said.

The expressway also was closed a little more than a year ago, and the state transportation department never backed off its claim that the highway is properly engineered. An engineering report placed most of the blame on a malfunctioning flap gate.

McDermott continues to disagree with INDOT on the matter.

"It looks to me like you can't have a 100-year flood every year," McDermott said, mocking claims the expressway can handle all but the worst floods.

INDOT crews pumped the I-80/94 expressway at Kennedy Avenue throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning, McDermott said. But when Optimist Lake south of the Lake County tourism center began to overflow, the expressway was doomed, he said.

Hotels in the area were evacuated by firetruck, boat and tow truck.

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STOP IT wrote on Sep 26, 2008 3:41 PM:

" STOP IT!
WHAT ABOUT THE MUNSTER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE MUTUAL AID FROM SUROUNDING FIRE DEPARTMENTS?? THEY WERE THERE FROM THE BEGINING!!! APPROX 3-4 HOURS LATER DID THE NATIONAL GUARD SHOW UP!! THANK GOD!! "

Susan wrote on Sep 22, 2008 11:33 PM:

" When things first started going horribly wrong, Coach Marsh called his team to help. Those players sent facebook messages to their friends, who passed the message on to others. Over 300 students turned out to sandbag, rescue residents and pets, go back for medicine, work at shelters, and organize clothing drives. They did this with little or no direction from the town. Munster is elected the wrong people -- we have to convince some of these students to run! "

Sympathy for all except one wrote on Sep 22, 2008 7:37 PM:

" My heart felt sympathy go out to the people of Munster! I would like to meet the person that called the town and called the staff stupid idiots! These are our family our friends and our loved ones,that have been working endlessly. You are the STUPID IDIOT! "

Town Council Jokes wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:26 PM:

" Flooding in Griffith, Highland, Munster these three communities are controled by Republican Town Councils, no action just smearing of Mara who was the only public official in any of the 3 communities to actually show her face at the river a fill sand bags while. Mayor tom and the Democratic town of Hammond did the same hmm! get the picture keep voting for the Repukes and you can expect the same inaction from your elected officials, doesn't really matter because they are going to blame Obama for the flooding anyways, they will try and spin some more lies anyways! "

100 yr flood again wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:01 PM:

" The town people are going to say another 100 yr flood, I live in Griffith and every year the flooding gets worst. And the town people say it was once in a hundred years this happens, Yeah right when you continue to build bigger homes all over the country side but do nothing for the infrastructure {bigger drainage pipes and runoffs} then this is what happen. Just keep building more and every year will be that 100 yr flood again, and again and again when will we learn? The only difference this year it was Munster now people are taking notice it affected the unscale homes and they don't like it well welcome to the real world! Try have this hundred yr floods every year! "

Sick of Munster bashers wrote on Sep 22, 2008 3:21 PM:

" Why does everyone feel the need to bash the residents of Munster? Believe it or not, residents of Munster do work for a living, whether it be in construction, at the mills, as teachers, as doctors and as lawyers. Same as any other city or town in Lake County. Just because someone lives in Munster, it doesn't mean they're sitting on a pile of cash and can replace everything that was ruined. Instead of being hateful, why not lend a hand to help these people that have been hard hit? And no, I don't live in Munster. "

conspiracy wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:50 PM:

" Maybe munster wanted those $200K or less homes to flood so they could condemn them and build newer, more expensive homes such as you see in south munster. "

dave wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:03 PM:

" It’s a shame that Mara Candelaria Reardon bashes the Munster town council and town workers, just because she does not understand the concept of gravity. Most people understand water flows to the lowest point. Stop bashing hard working Munster residents and town employees just to try to move your political career ahead. Your time should have been spent working with local, country and state officials on the overall response. Running down to the river so people can see you “working” and bashing others wasn’t productive. "

Mad as H--- and Im not going to take it wrote on Sep 22, 2008 11:25 AM:

" It's to bad that Munster does not have a viable options on election day. I would suggest that the best of many options would be to vote them all out of office in Nov. But there is only one side of the ballot for the voters to punch. The next primary is where residents that are disenchanted with the poor leadership need to step up and put new faces with new ideas on the ballot and in office.
Maybe just a no vote on the local side of the ballot in Nov. would start to send a message. Also, NO INCUMBENTS!!! "

Joke wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:58 AM:

" You're an absolute joke. Mara. Can't
wait to vote you out. "

Democrats see their JOB is to criticize wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:05 AM:

" previous commenter says It is our JOB as citizens to criticize our elected officials, even when they have no basis and are just doing it to further their own personal political career.

This is disgusting but to be expected, I guess, from the left. While the Munster Town council was working diligently with the DNR, the state and local police and fire fighters, and Dan Gardner, the executive director of the Little Calumet River Commission, State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, chose not to join them and the many hard working citizens to work TOGETHER, but she immediately had the knee-jerk reaction to blame the Munster Town Council. She should have taken a deep breath, thought this through, and done some research.

But that is too much to ask of a political hack. If it rains, it's the Munster Town Council's fault. If homeowners hire legal eagles and fight the levee construction tooth and nail, slowing the project down, that's the Munster Town Council's fault.

The good people of Munster and surrounding communities are too smart to fall for this bitter, partisan woman and her knee jerk reaction. "

stubborn homeowners delayed levee project wrote on Sep 19, 2008 7:57 AM:

" Dan Gardner said that to complete the project that would have stopped the flooding, the commission has to acquire rights of way and easements, especially in people's private backyards. The process has delayed the project.

Dan Gardner is the executive director of the Little Calumet River Commission.

So if these people who would not give the right of way and easement along the river had worried less about a few trees, they would have had the levee completed and had no flooding.

That was short sighted on their part.

People are more important than trees. "

Meteor falls from sky crushes town hall wrote on Sep 18, 2008 5:35 PM:

" What if a meteor fell from the sky, crushing the town hall or the local McDonalds?

State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, would be heard to say "It's all the Munster Republican Town Council's Fault! It didn't hit Hammand did it? That's because they have a great Democrat Mayor. The Town Council should have prepared and put a meteor-proof dome over the entire town! We need to throw them out and oh by the way I am running for Town Council, and I approve this message because I am a political hack. "

Munster Northcote Citizen wrote on Sep 18, 2008 12:42 AM:

" It is our JOB as citizens to criticize our elected officials when they are as incompetent as the Munster town council was. This discussion has some tones that remind me of those who said we had no right to criticize the planning for the Iraq war. WE are criticizing the planning and the planners not the troops. (police, fire and rescue) I am a veteran and know that we would all fight to protect main job, CITIZEN. I worked at the Northcote bridge and berm from 8 am until 6 pm to try and avert this disaster. I was exhausted , cold and emotionally drained. I then spent the next 8 hours sandbagging my home try to save it from the breaches. If you could have heard the comments of the heros, my neighbors, trying to save our homes they would be identical to Rep. Reardon's. The planning was non-existent and to say otherwise is dishonest. I am sure you would hear comments from our entire neighborhood echoing Rep. Reardon's comments but most of our computers are underwater. Lay off Rep. Reardon she worked all day trying to save our homes!! "

Town officials asleep wrote on Sep 17, 2008 8:38 PM:

" A tornado rips through town.Response was so.Did the town leaders sit down and consider working on emergency plans?No they put together a survey to seek input about pie in the sky,lofty dreams of our delusional town manager.His desire to set a high minimum price to play in Munster kept more important issues from being worked on.Where was leadership that didn't think to send crews to the pumping station to check on it?I guess protecting it with sandbags was beyond their thought abilities?Had they,the controls might not have burned up from electrical shorting.I further guess pulling the breakers before it flooded was out of leaders minds too.Doing so would have saved the plant and allowed sandbagging to take place around the station.That water in the building could then have been pumped outand the breakers replaced to allow for pumping. How about the plan to kick displaced residents out of Munster High and ship them off to the Hammond Civic Center. Is there something wrong or uncomfortable for our town leaders to offer the Centenial Park club house for these residents?I've been a die hard republican all my life.I've supported this town board, helped elect them and will no longer support them. "

Ashamed of Mara wrote on Sep 17, 2008 10:18 AM:

" I am ashamed that we have someone like Mara shooting off her mouth in an emergency situation like this. While the Munster Town Council is busy working closely with the police and fire fighters, DNR, the State Police, and officials of both parties to do whatever is needed to mitigate this unprecedented water flow from the Hurricane Ike, Mara is the only one sniping from the sidelines, trying to score political points instead of helping and joining the team.

This is exactly the kind of bitter partisan underhanded lying the American people are sick and tired of. At first I thought Mara was good but I can't wait to vote her out next time.

Thank you Munster Town Council, Munster and surrounding police and fire fighters, DNR, State Police, and officials of both parties -- you have really showed team work and I appreciate everything you have done. I am sorry you have to endure the ankle biting from Mara in addition to handling the actual problem at hand. "

real shame wrote on Sep 17, 2008 9:43 AM:

" It's a real shame that political hacks like Mara Candelaria Reardon, Democrat-Munster, have to try to use a hundred year storm and the effects of Hurricane Ike for political purposes.
Instead of going around trying to blame the Town Council, I wish Mara would help the Town Council in their heroic efforts to mitigate the effects of this horrible storm and flooding.

It really shows her true colors, instead of helping and working together in a bi-partisan way to help the people of Munster, she is running around pointing fingers and blaming everyone else but herself.

A real shame. She is a disappointment. "

J wrote on Sep 16, 2008 1:13 PM:

" There is no doubt that the Munster Residents did everything they could; but this was a monumental failure on the part of Munster's elected officials. The whole situation demonstrated poor leadership by town officials. It doesn't take an engineering expert to figure out that Town officials made poor decisions. I sincerely hope they start stepping up during the long cleanup effort. "

Cookie wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:33 AM:

" I have lived in the Dowling Park area of Hessville for eighteen years. When a close friend and neighbor of mine called to tell me that rushing water was heading down her street, I did not believe that this was happening. I really would like an explanation from the INDOT crews as to why they pumped and who authorized them to pump the I-80/94 Expressway rain water into Dowling Park, as well as, our surrounding subdivisions. What were they thinking? It is one thing to open up the expressway again but for thousands of homewowners to possibly loose their property is totally UNBELIEVABLE! It is time that the State of Indiana-Transporation Department spend the time, energy, resources, and funding to properly construct this area. Last time, they blamed a malfunctioning flap gate and I wonder what their excuse will be this time!PLEASE, repair this expressway so that this does not occur again. I also would like to applaud and personally thank Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr., and the Hammond Public Works Department for building the berms and continually monitoring the Dowling Park situation. Thanks to you my home is still just that
home and I am extremely grateful. "

year Munster resident wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:32 AM:

" One town "monitored from Saturday night into Sunday".
One town "began building berms Saturday night along the Little Calumet at Columbia Avenue and at Northcote Avenue".
Care to guess which town fared better? I've lived in Munster for a good while and usually am very impressed with our public services. This time is a glaring exception. It has already cost many of us dearly. Let's not allow a sense of civic pride to blind us to the fact that very serious mistakes were made. We need go on from where we are now. There will be time to address these errors, and they should not be minimized. "

Munster Northcote Resident wrote on Sep 15, 2008 11:35 PM:

" This all began when Rep. Reardon was on the sandbag line trying to save our neighborhood. We couldn't get anyone from the town to answer our calls for more supplies. She tried to call everyone she could, while helping fill sandbags, and all while being a part of sandbag line. She was the only elected official at the Northcote bridge doing ANY work, PERIOD. All she did was echo the sentiments of every single person at that bridge! The residents were the real heros while town elected officials fiddled while our homes drowned. Our deepest most heartfelt thanks for all of the help we received while trying to save our homes, people came from all over NW Indiana; in church clothes even, young and old, men and women. Heros one and all, thanks and God bless all of you! "

munstermomma wrote on Sep 15, 2008 11:10 PM:

" I have lived in Munster for 20+ years, and also live in a mandatory evacuation zone. I do not agree that ALL of Munster pays people to do their work, there are TONS of good hearted people out here trying to help. I do believe that the Town of Munster in completely at fault, there was extremely little preparedness, and the town doesn't even have anyone to monitor the levels which is why it became so catastrophic. I agree with Rep. Candelaria Reardon completely, and it was shear luck that something like this hasn't happened sooner. My heart goes out to all those effected. I hope now our wonderful town council will finally put forth the money to hire full time employees (especially for the water department) that they have cut within the past year, deaming them unneccessary (I know this to completely true as I know numerous people that work for the town). To the Town of Munster, as you should have learned from the tornado, the weather doesn't punch out at 4pm like many of you, we either 24 hour protection and preparedness or we don't need you!!!!!! "

Resident Troll wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:39 PM:

" I think this is the perfect chance to ask how our resident troll "Aaron-Munster" is doing. "

Cookie wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:15 PM:

" I haved lived in the Dowling Park area of Hessville for eighteen years. When a close friend and neighbor of mine called to advise me that rushing water was heading down her street, I could hardly believe this was happening in Hessville. I really would like an explanation from the INDOT crews as to why they pumped and who authorized them to pump the I-80/94 Expressway at Kennedy Avenue into Dowling Park, as well as, our surrounding subdivision. What were they thinking? It is one thing to open a major expressway but to destroy thousands of homes to do so is totally wrong. Unbelievable! Obviously, this expressway is not and has not been properly designed. It is about time that the proper time, energy, research, and funds are utilized in order to correct the drainage problems in this area on the expressway. To blame a malfunctioning flap gate the last time....I wonder what the excuse will be this time. I also would like to personally applaud and thank Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. and his staff for their awesome performance in building the berms, as well as, the sand wall placed around Dowling Park. "

JAWS wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:11 PM:

" Hey Munster residents - hang on to your wallets cause Munster Town officials are very busy coming up with "creative" ideas to put their hands on your wallet! First, they have the highest traffic fines in NW IN, then they "mistakenly" overbilled residents on their water bill by hundreds of dollars. Now landlords will have to pay $200 for an "inspection fee" - Watch out, they need to "creatively" think of new ways to come up with lots of $$$ to pay for all this! Wonder what they'll come up with next! "

go away Mara Candelaria Reardon D-Munster wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:26 PM:

" This is sick that Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, tries to bash the hard working Munster town council and town workers, just because she does not understand the concept of gravity. She does not understand that water flows to the lowest point.

When the flood level is 12 feet and the river goes to 18 feet, guess what Mara? The water has to go somewhere.

Get a life and stop bashing hard working Munster residents and town employees just to try to move your sorry political career ahead, you hack! "

Typical wrote on Sep 15, 2008 8:26 PM:

" Ms. Candelaria-Reardon - were you out there helping with sandbags, or just throwing mud? "

How bout a little perspective wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:52 PM:

" Has anyone considered (are you listening, Mrs. Reardon?) that this level of flooding is UNPRECEDENTED in Munster? I recently moved from the banks of the Little Cal and in the 30 years my former home has stood in Munster, it NEVER got water from the river... clearly Munster has always had a plan and it's worked. That house is now engulfed in water. WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS... HOW CAN YOU CRITICIZE THE TOWN FOR NOT BEING PREPARED FOR SOMETHING THIS BIG??? The idea that the Town took this lightly is ridiculous... these are the very people whose homes have been destroyed. Their families are homeless and our illustrious State Representative can do nothing but wag her finger and pose for her close-up? Only a bully would take a cheap shot like that toward these people at a time like this. If you can't offer anything helpful, you should probably keep your thoughts to yourself. Good luck getting re-elected here... we don't have any use for bullies in Munster. "

Lets be real here... wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:08 PM:

" Look, the people in Munster who this is affecting are not those 'typical' Munster people. They are people just across the river from Hammond, not those living in lush palaces or whatever people think of Munster. These are the 'not-so-rich' and a good portion of elderly and families without loads of money to just rebuild. People in this area are just the same as any other region inhabitant. Can we just be nice for a minute or two??? "

Hello people wrote on Sep 15, 2008 6:23 PM:

" Hello people, in all the bashing this and bashing that..nobody notice that it seems as though we ALL have had a major disaster each year for more than several years in a row, meaning that people have lost everything from a flood or tornado. Something, some where no matter what religion or lack there of is trying to wake us up. WAKE UP PEOPLE!! Try lending a hand somewhere instead of bashing it. "

Hard Working Hammond wrote on Sep 15, 2008 6:09 PM:

" My heart breaks for the people who have damage to their homes. At the same time, its only fair to send a big thank you to the Hammond workers and Mayor who busted tail, day and night, for three solid days to save Hammond Homes. I'd like to see some positive press on that. By the way S.Brown, where was Golec during this emergency, busy at home making his yard signs? "

Northcote Resident wrote on Sep 15, 2008 6:05 PM:

" Much thanks to the residents of Wicker Park and the High School kids who helped sand bag and were still doing so today. Thanks to Mara for being the only official out there helping. There were no politicians or Munster Officials out there while I was sand bagging. Mara wasn't out there looking for votes, she was helping her neighbors. She used to live in one of the houses that's now under water. Why trash Mara for telling the truth? Truth hurts?????? "

Denise wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:34 PM:

" We also live in the Dowling Park neighborhood and I would like to thank the citys street department for controlling the flooding before it got out of control. "

Schererville Resident wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:14 PM:

" Ms. Candelaria-Reardon,

Typical politician. Lots of rhetoric and few solutions.

I guess it is better to see the problem from the other side of the street and just complain about it. Why take action when you can create policial gain at the expense of your own constituents.

Sometimes it is better to first come togther before assessing blame. e.g. Why not confront INDOT and the corp of engineers on behalf of your constituents to find the root cause of the matter and have it fixed. Would appear to me that if the berm gave away it might have been weakened over a period of time.

"It looks to me like you can't have a 100-year flood every year," McDermott said, mocking claims the expressway can handle all but the worst floods. "

Hammond-J wrote on Sep 15, 2008 2:24 PM:

" Thanks to all who have helped, and thanks to all who have been patient. "

R- wrote on Sep 15, 2008 2:15 PM:

" This all began when Rep. Reardon was on the sandbag line trying to save our neighborhood. We couldn't get anyone from the town to answer our calls for more supplies. She tried to call everyone she could, while helping fill sandbags, and all while being a part of sandbag line. She was the only elected official at the Northcote bridge doing ANY work, PERIOD. All she did was echo the sentiments of every single person at that bridge! The residents were the real heros while town officials fiddled while we drowned. Kudos to all of the help we received to try and save our homes, people came from all over; in church clothes, young and old, men and women. Heros one and all, thanks and God bless all of you! "

RepNoMore wrote on Sep 15, 2008 1:54 PM:

" To Ms. Mara Candelaria-Reardon: Get a clue. Nothing could have stopped this devastation. Its time that this County and the Army Corp of Engineers do what they need to do and get this issue taken care of once and for all. You never had my vote nor ever will. You have ridden on your mothers coat tails long enough and people should finally realize that and vote you out. Why weren't you there directing things with the town of Munster, your home town, but sitting watching Hammond and pointing fingers. You are a State rep after all. Shame on you. "

Munster Guy wrote on Sep 15, 2008 1:40 PM:

" Mara has a great point the Town of Munster should have been pro-active in this case and not re-active. As far as the Munster bashing by people not in Munster. I live in Munster and have no problem making fun of ourselves and the whiny people that live here. Our town blows money on fireworks each year that money should be used for town emergencies. Congrats to the Mayor of Hammond and his team for getting the sandbags out early. I just hope people can have enough damgage to qualify for Federal Aid. It would be horrible to have heavy damage in the area but then not qualify for the real money. Hey Times One Region One Vision this buddy! "

lulu wrote on Sep 15, 2008 1:10 PM:

" pfft, I can't believe anyone can say with a straight face that the expressway was engineered properly. A few years ago the ramp from eastbound traffic going north on Kennedy had to be redone twice. And STILL that ramp floods should we get even a half inch of rain. That exchange is right on a wetlands area. You need to do something special to protect the expressway, not just do the same thing you do everywhere else.

If you are going to spend the millions to fix it, at least fix it right. "

proud munster mom wrote on Sep 15, 2008 1:03 PM:

" I would like to give a hand to the kids who should be "enjoying" an unexpected day off from school to make sandbags at Fisher Street garage. When the river starts out at flood level, there is not much that can be done to stop it when it is happening. Not all Munster people can afford to "pay people" to do their work. Sensing a little jealousy towards those that work their butts off to put their kids in great schools and want to stay away from rampant crime. Why wasn't the "Rep" sandbagging the other side if it wasn't right? You Hammond whiners will be out when the fantastic street department doesnt plow your streets for three days in the winter. "

RegionRat wrote on Sep 15, 2008 12:43 PM:

" The Little Cal has always been a problem - there have been overflows before into Hammond and Munster - usually Hammond gets the worst of the flooding - at least now Hammond is willing to do try to do something to avoid as much damage as possible. They were still at it late last night to help the Dowling Park neighborhood.

As for Munster - Kudos to all those atheletes and neighbors who helped sandbag in Munster - you did your best to help. But it was too late for too many Munster residents - the town didn't do anything until it was basically too late.

Maybe now the town of Munster will pay attention to water levels in the Little Cal - after all, the water was high with all the previous rainfall - What, they thought that with more rain on the way the water level wouldn't rise? I just hope they put more effort into helping the residents clean up and salvage their homes and neighborhoods "

Lesson Learned and Calloused wrote on Sep 15, 2008 11:43 AM:

" What goes around...comes around. I used to be one of the first to gladly and anonymously help others, whether it be flood victim assistance, loaning equipment, giving blood, giving generously in general. But after being falsely accused and arrested by an East Chicago cop and maliciously prosecuted by the Lake County Prosecutor, (I was found not guilty), I refuse to lift a finger for anyone or anything connected with Lake County. "

Never Had My Vote wrote on Sep 15, 2008 11:02 AM:

" I believe Mara has gotten herself too caught up in the ways of the national campaign rhetoric. Why does she even feel that this is an issue that needs to be at the forefront of our attentions, when people are still currently bailing out and haven't even begun to assess their damages? What a typical politician, just out there trying to increase their numbers by flinging dirt, but in this case mud! I never voted for her in the first place, as she was just riding on the coat tails of her deceased mother, who by the way was an extremely hard worker, upstanding citizen, and well educated--all terms I wouldn't think about using in the same sentence with Ms. Candelaria-Reardon. "

Sadden wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:17 AM:

" I am amazed how people can judge others in a time of need. Everyone in all surrounding communities have been affected in some way and others worse. Sometimes we forget the good like the Munster Atheletes sand bagging side by side helping to save the town from severe damage. Thak you to the Mustang Football Players for all the hours of hard work. My nephew was one of those kids who worked 12 plus hours. Stop the bashing and look at how others are helping strangers, neighbors & friends.
Good luck to all!!!! "

Hammond Resident wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:10 AM:

" What I do not understand, is that there are still levees that need sandbagging, and rather than going out to assist you people are sitting here bashing one another.

In any disaster, there will always be questionable decisions made. Was it too late? Did they do enough?

My question to you individuals, both Munster and Hammond, is why not wait until we are all out from under this dark cloud to begin bashing one another and the efforts of each town.

Stop flexing your e-muscles, and go do something that can help the greater good. "

ccal wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:09 AM:

" to Mayor McDermott, protecting hammond residents along the little calumet may be expensive but as one of those residents i say thank you for putting the crews out to protect my home. "

Thanks to MayorDept of Public Works wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:04 AM:

" Instead of criticizing Munster's response, how about praising Hammond's. There are a lot of houses now NOT destroyed because the City acted in time. Thanks to all the Councilmen/Women who were out at the various areas as well. It makes people happy to hear that they care enough to be there. "

ranger wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:57 AM:

" I lived on the east coast right on the ocean for 12 years and survived one hurricane after another. Ya I lost plenty of personal effects and some friends throughout the years but it all boiled down to one thing. If you dont like it Move. If you live by a river, lake, pond and expect them to not flood you are just ignorant. "

steve wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:46 AM:

" The borman 80/94 may be properly engineered but its surrounding sure are not which lead to the problems 2 years in a row. The state eningeers need to stop being so tunnel visioned and get this problem resolved. "

YearMunsterResident wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:30 AM:

" If it weren't for the strong sense of community within our neighborhood, we truly would have nothing left. Some houses got more water than others, some families lost more than others - but we are all going through this terrible experience together. We have each other to thank for the support, not the town of Munster.

For all the years we've been in Munster, its sad to now realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the bridge.

Kudos to Hammond on a job well done. Munster should take note. "

sadden wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:26 AM:

" It amazes me that we look at people this way. All communities were effected in some ways more than others. One thing people are not aware of the athelets of Munster {Munster Football players}sand bagged all day. That shows integrity and honor. You all who bash need to look globally! "

Blue collar - white collar wrote on Sep 15, 2008 9:11 AM:

" Hammond is a working town. Munster pays people to do the work. "

Diablita wrote on Sep 15, 2008 8:52 AM:

" "I agree with you that it is not right for people to be bashing people while they are down... in fact, even when they are up. however, adding the once in your "sad life" part almost backs up the exact reason he said that. That is how SOME (not all) people from Munster talk to people on a daily basis. "

I don't live in Munster. If you feel the need to say the things these people are saying in the midst of a REGION WIDE crisis, then you live a sad existence. There is no question about that in my mind. "

jealosy wrote on Sep 15, 2008 8:36 AM:

" you people who bash munster should have been there to see the munster residents come together and sand bag there you could have witnessed true community pride, something that sets us apart from you. you weasels can hide behind your computer and bash our town but deep down you wish you could you could have the same civic pride as us "

greg wrote on Sep 15, 2008 8:19 AM:

" I love how some has to take away the goodness of the people of the town. there were people filling those sandbags that dont even know you. working till all hours of the night. Why dont you write a story about how the town came together. All i have to say is SHE LOST MY VOTE! "

stop it wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:55 AM:

" Before anyone else decides to bash the Munster residents,maybe you should consider those people who had to be evacutated from Munster Med Inn. We should be looking for ways to lend a helping hand instead of throwing stones at each other. Thank you to the National Guard for coming out and assisting! "

To Diablita wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:43 AM:

" " You know what? People lost their homes. Is it possible for you people to hold off on the Munster resident bashing for once in your sad life? "

I agree with you that it is not right for people to be bashing people while they are down... in fact, even when they are up. however, adding the once in your "sad life" part almost backs up the exact reason he said that. That is how SOME (not all) people from Munster talk to people on a daily basis. "

Big Shout Out wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:40 AM:

" Kudos to Mayor McDermott and the Hammond Street Department for acting BEFORE it was too late and saving a lot of homes!! Usually all you see is a lot of Mayor Bashing (Guess J.P. is too busy shop vac water out of his Schererville home to post) but now people can finally see that a forward thinking Mayor and a professional street staff are worth their weight in gold! "

Diablita wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:58 AM:

" " I understand the sandbags Munster ordered are a special bleand of Carribean Sand a mixture of white soft sand that is simple the best only for the Munster residents. "

You know what? People lost their homes. Is it possible for you people to hold off on the Munster resident bashing for once in your sad life? "

Blinded by the light wrote on Sep 15, 2008 4:33 AM:

" Pride and greed will get you every time. This is Munster after all. "

Shut up Mara wrote on Sep 15, 2008 4:11 AM:

" Gee what a whiner! Hammond was out at first light Sunday sandbagging their side of the River while the Munster crews watched and laughed at them. A few hours later Hammond was high and dry while Munster was under water! But it has to be somebody else fault? Typical whiney Democrat rhetoric! "

im declaring war on the lil cal river wrote on Sep 15, 2008 2:30 AM:

" I live in the mandatory evacuation area and I just would like to "thank" the town of Munster for doing almost nothing to avert this inevitable nightmare while Hammond was on the other side trying its hardest to protect its residents from almost certain flooding. Even if our efforts didn't work... at least we can say we tried rather than letting it happen. Also I would like to "thank" Ivy Tech Community College Northwest for thinking about us flood victims when they gave the go ahead to not cancel school... unfortunately that means I will be missing an important class while trying to salvage whats left of my house. "

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