Horseshoe Lake resident Joan Brown looks out her back door Wednesday, where her yard remains flooded after heavy rain at her house.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Joan and George Brown are used to the annual spring flooding around their property on Horseshoe Lake.

But with the ground still saturated from normal seasonal flooding, the deluge of rain that hit the area near Whitmore Lake a week ago left the longtime residents with a sense of foreboding.

“When this came last Wednesday, it was obvious that something was going to happen,” Joan Brown said. “But this is the worst in, ’79 until now, that my husband and I have seen.”

Brown estimated that a dozen homes in her neighborhood had suffered water damage in last week's flooding.

Some 3.91 inches of rain fell over 48 hours in the Ann Arbor area last week, a total that qualifies as a 25-year storm event, according to University of Michigan weather observer Dennis Kahlbaum, meaning a storm of this magnitude is expected about once every 25 years.

The week's forecast may offer some help in drying out the region, with highs in the 70s and 80s and sunshine expected this weekend, along with a 30 percent to 40 percent chance of thunderstorms Friday and Saturday.

On Tuesday, the Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross sent a team of volunteers to the area to survey the damage and assess the extent of the flooding, said Emergency Services Director Ashley Cieslinski. They assisted one family that had called for help.

In order to receive assistance during a flood, there must be at least 12 inches of water in the living space of the house. Assistance usually provides the residents with food and lodging for three nights.

“The Red Cross assistance doesn’t stop the day that we provide assistance," Cieslinski said. "We’re working with community agencies all of the time to make sure that the residents get help cleaning their house."

Brown said the Horseshoe Lake area has been prone to flooding for many years, and in 1990 it was delineated as a federal flood plain. Anything built after the delineation of the flood plains must be in total compliance with the elevations set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Browns' house was built in 1985.

Brown said there was 5 to 6 feet of water in their yard at the flood's peak, and it came right up to the lip of their deck.

“We had, before it would have entered our structure, probably between 10 and 12 inches, before it really would have come in and gotten into the carpet and stuff like that,” Brown said. “It’s going to take another week and a half to two weeks before it is gone.”

The Browns' dog, Pepper, was sent to live with a friend for a few days because there was nowhere in the front or backyard for her to go to the bathroom.

With the water receding in the front yard, the Browns' backyard was still a part of Horseshoe Lake on Wednesday. A paddle boat was tethered to a swinging bench and flagpole, which were both in about 2 feet of water.

Brown said that at the height of the flooding, the water had reached the fourth step on their back deck. The fence separating the Browns' yard from their neighbors was partially covered, and at one point could not be seen.

Brown said this much water puts stress on the sewer system, which means that toilets can't be flushed. This caused the Browns to devise a method of getting from their flooded front yard to the gas station down the street.

With George in his waders and Joan in her boots, the Browns would climb into their paddle boat and paddle up to their car, which was parked up a hill. That issue, at least, has been resolved, as the waters have receded enough for the toilets to work again.

The residents of Shady Beach Road have already discussed having an “I survived the flood” picnic sometime this summer.

“There’s always humor with it, and if you don’t laugh at it you go nuts,” Brown said.

Brown said that in situations like this it is crucial for everyone to work together to help out.

“As difficult as it was, and as inconvenient as it was we’re not Joplin, Missouri, we still have our homes, we are alive, we are not the Mississippi — although, for a few days we thought we were,” Brown said.

Michelle Meunier is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Have a community news tip? Email community@annarbor.com.