Gov Doyle declares State of Emergency in Southern Wisconsin

[undeterred]

BREAKING NEWS: State of Emergency in Southern Wisconsin
Governor Jim Doyle's office released the following statement just before 10 p.m. Sunday night:

"MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle tonight declared a state of emergency for 29 counties due to severe storms and flooding.

"The counties include: Adams, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, LaCrosse, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago Counties.

"The Governor’s declaration allows Wisconsin’s Adjutant General, Brigadier General Don Dunbar to activate National Guard troops to assist the affected counties as necessary. Six soldiers and three high profile vehicles were deployed Sunday evening to assist with evacuation of a mobile home park in Ontario, Vernon County. This was the only request but the National Guard’s Joint Operations Center is activated to coordinate any additional request for support.

"The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated since Saturday afternoon. Members of the Wisconsin State Patrol have been assessing road damage throughout southwestern Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has been responding to requests from counties for personnel to assist with sandbagging and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has been monitoring dams throughout Wisconsin.

"The Governor’s declaration is a result of the widespread flooding and severe storms that have occurred throughout the state causing damage to homes and businesses, washing out numerous roads and bringing down power lines and trees. There have been no reports of serious injuries or death."

http://wkow.madison.com/News/index.php?ID=22232

[sybylla]

1. I was watching the storms all weekend since Friday.

I couldn't believe how the southern counties were getting pounded. We had plenty of rain ourselves, but it the storms were not so strong and continuous. It's gotta be a mess in Green county where my aunts live.

[LTR]

2. An ugly, ugly weekend

I was caught driving through the worst of it, and ran into some rather nasty flood conditions, even on the tops of hills.

Hey California, want to take a little rain off our hands?

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. You too?

I went to Madison to do some research on Saturday (sorry, Sybylla! Short notice!). It was fine in the morning, and I knew storms were possible later, but had no idea what I was getting into.

I got out of the Historical Society about 3; clouds were moving in. I was famished, so went and had some lunch. Left South Towne drive for Hwy 18 about 3:45 and started heading east. Holy moley! Just east of 39/90 it was midnight, while west of there, it was still afternoon.

I went a little bit further, afraid to even go north to get on 94 because it was so dark. Then, I heard on the radio that there were TWO storms. And it sounded like they'd converge in the area just to the west of Milwaukee I'd be heading thru. Aiyeeee!

So I headed back to Madison and cooled my heels at the lounge in the Sheraton for an hour or so, watching the weather on the bar TV. At 5:30 I tried again, and did OK (notwithstanding the swirling clouds around Ft Atkinson that gave me pause....). Then, around Delafield, the sky opened up. Buckets and buckets. I got off at Moorland. That was a mistake. Cops had the road blocked going north. So I headed down to Greenfield to keep going. Again, blocked just east of 124th. So I whipped back, got on Elm Grove (having no idea where I was going, mind you...), and FINALLY reached Blue Mound. I got home just before 8!!

OK, this loudmouthed Texan is officially apologizing for making fun of "wimpy Wisconsin weather." :-)

[LTR]

7. The south side of Milwaukee was freakin' brutal

S. 27th St. was a river.

I approached it on Morgan Av. coming from the west. All I saw was the tops of cars sailing down the street and some not-so-lucky ones that were stalled. It looked like something out of hell. At the intersection, I made an illegal U-turn to get the hell away from there. I figured if an officer dared pull me over for that, I'd tell him to go take a jump in the lake street.

The areas around the runoff canal to the south were pretty shocking. The whole thing flowed over onto area streets, and was completely full of water.

I hate rain. :mad:

[sybylla]

8. You're forgiven

On both counts - making fun and leaving me behind.

Unfortunately, I couldn't have made it so I don't feel too bad. Maybe the 28th? If the weather looks good. :P


On edit, glad to hear you made it home safe.

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. Hmmmm....I'd say the 28th is out.

I'm driving to Minneapolis next Wednesday and coming back that next Sunday (22nd).

I have a feeling I won't want to go near a car that entire next weekend. All I'll want to do is SLEEP!

One of these days we'll get it together, I know it!

[Connonym]

3. Lots of flooding in Waukesha

kind of hard this morning to get from one side of town to the other because a bunch of roads were closed with flooding. Hard to navigate trying to remember where all the low spots in the roads are, can't necessarily tell what's just a puddle and what's a couple feet of water.

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Sussex got pounded!

Driving out to work this morning was crazy. Huge fields just invisible under the water. And ALL the roads out here are torn up, so it's even harder to get around than usual!

[undeterred]

6. Lake Mendota is much higher today than it was Saturday

and the creek in my East Madison neighborhood is overflowing.