Wisconsin was inundated with tornados, flooding and hail this week. Here's the latest.
New task force will work to mitigate Milwaukee area flooding
Milwaukee officials announced the creation of a combined Flood Mitigation Task Force to deal with short-term and long-term flooding. The panel will address the increasing frequency of serious flooding in the region.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Executive Director Kevin Shafer are convening the task force, which Johnson says will “build on the cooperative work that’s been underway for decades and add a renewed sense of urgency as a result of recent flooding events.”
The work of the panel will prioritize mitigation in locations facing the highest risk, including sites that have been flooded repeatedly in recent years, according to the April 17 press release.
The press release says MMSD has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in flood prevention work, and it plans to keep that work going, including a focus on the area around the Kinnickinnic River.
“Mitigation efforts that the district has previously identified have price tags totaling about $900 million,” says MMSD's Kevin Shafer. He says an investment of that scale requires “significant public input and buy-in from a number of local governments.”
Tornado touches down in Marathon County
As of Saturday at 9:35 a.m., the National Weather Service of Green Bay indicates that survey teams are just arriving to assess the damage of a tornado in Marathon County, just east of Wausau. It was confirmed by local law enforcement, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Weather Service says it should know more early this afternoon.
WSAW reports that 75 homes were damaged, and that some people were trapped in their basements, but no one was injured and no one died, according to Ringle Fire Chief Chris Kielman.
The destruction occurred in a subdivision in a highly residential area, Kielman said, as reported by WSAW. Nearby Riverside Elementary also suffered minor damage.
Displaced residents were being taken to the D.C. Everest Middle School.
According to WSAW, Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb said he had never seen devastation like this in his 34 years in law enforcement. “A lot of people are going to need a lot of help,” Billeb said during a press conference Friday night.
Historic flooding Of Wisconsin River threatens Portage community; critical infrastructure at risk
Water levels along the Wisconsin River are at 20 feet as of Saturday at 10:30 a.m., and are placing significant strain on levee systems, threatening to breach the Caledonia Levee in the Portage area in Columbia County. The levee is south of Highway 33 near Blackhawk Park.
The city of Portage is advising that for safety reasons, residents in the Blackhawk subdivision area should evacuate immediately while the road remains passable. It's important that residents follow this warning.
A reception center will be open in the Portage City Hall basement located at 115 W. Pleasant Street in Portage.
The levees continue to be monitored 24 hours a day, and crews are working to extend sandbag blockades. There are concerns about levee stability due to prolonged saturated conditions and this week’s rainfall.
The National Weather Service is currently forecasting that Wisconsin River levels will continue to decline from 20.47 feet as we continue through the weekend; however, concerns related to a rise in water levels, the levee, and additional rainfall remain in place.
All members of the public are advised to refrain from boating, swimming, or otherwise entering the Wisconsin River due to increased water levels, faster currents, and the presence of debris beneath the surface. People are advised to refrain from playing in or entering flood waters in streets or other public open areas.
The most current flooding and evacuation information can be found on the Columbia County Emergency Management website. Flooding resources are also available.
