LOUISBURG, Kan. – For the Juarez family, getting to and from their Louisburg home has become a balancing act – quite literally.
“I cringe when it’s dark. I cringe when it’s raining. I cringe when I have to carry groceries across,” Susan Juarez said.
In July, rain flooded their road and washed away the bridge connecting their driveway to the street. It was their only way in and out of their home.
The water was so powerful, it moved two culverts down the creek and created a giant gap.
“We have two cars that are on the house side, and two cars that are on the street side,” Rebekah Juarez, the second of four children, said.
Now, the family has to navigate how to cross a 12-foot deep ditch on a daily basis.
They do so by stepping over rocks, loose gravel, and water – deciding to climb either a 12-foot ladder or balance across a loose metal beam.
"I am exhausted, I am utterly exhausted,” Susan said. "I am just tired. I am tired of juggling cars, schedules and then walk this when we come home and it’s cold or raining or dark.”
This is the fifth time the bridge has washed away.
According to the family, Miami County has repaired the bridge twice but now the family said the county will not take responsibility.
41 Action News contacted Miami County Counselor David Heger.
Over the phone, Heger told 41 Action News the bridge is on “private property” and the owners were made aware that the property was located in a floodplain when they first purchased the home.
Heger would not answer questions about previous repairs.
"That’s what we’ve been asking the county. Where does our survey line start? They say it’s 30 feet but we have paperwork that proves that it’s 40 feet,” said Susan. "This creek was small when we bought in 1992. And every year it gets wider and wider.”
On Tuesday, Miami County released a statement to 41 Action News about the Juarez family and their washed out bridge.
“In short, the ditch is located on private property, and the landowners are responsible for any structure traversing the ditch,” the statement read.
The county said any continued use of culverts would “not be successful” due to the heavy waterfall running through the ditch in heavy rains.
The county said building a bridge to withstand the high volume could cost up to six-figures to construct and suggested the family “find another location north of the current entrance” where the volume will be significantly less.
