The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has started its damage assessment in the Berrien Springs and Niles areas following this month’s flooding. Chief Deputy Robert Boyce tells WSJM News the sheriff’s department’s damage assessment team was checking out homes in the River Springs Estates mobile home park Monday.
“The initial stuff we’re doing today is to record that information, and then it will give us a timeline of what we need to do in the recovery process,” Boyce said.
Boyce said the initial inspections also looked at which homes could have power restored. He says there’s a long road ahead.
“You can always replace your property,” Boyce said. “We’re just thankful nobody got hurt, and it’s going to be time consuming, but rely on your faith, your family, your friends, and the generosity of the community rallying around you.”
Boyce estimated about 75% of the homes in the neighborhood suffered flood damage. He added shelters will remain open as long as they’re needed. The damage assessment team is made up of sheriff’s deputies, Red Cross workers, building inspectors, and staff from the Berrien County Equalization Department. They work in six units of four. Each has a uniformed police officer with it.
