State of Wisconsin

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Department of Military Affairs

Wisconsin Emergency Management

2400 Wright St

P.O. Box 7865

Madison, WI 53707-7865

Telephone (608) 242-3232

Facsimile (608) 242-3247

24-Hour Emergency Hotline: 1-800-943-0003

DATE: August 19, 2007

10:40 a.m.

TO: Governor Jim Doyle

Wisconsin Congressional Delegation

State Legislators

FROM: Johnnie Smith

Administrator

SUBJECT: SITUATION REPORT ON FLOODING #2

OVERVIEW – Overnight thunderstorms produced 10-12 inches of rain across southwestern corner of Wisconsin producing widespread flooding. Numerous roads and bridges are washed out and closed. Power lines and trees are also down. Local officials are reporting numerous rescues of people trapped in vehicles. No reports of injuries at this time. No word on how many homes or businesses have been impacted. The State Emergency Operations Center was activated at 5:00 a.m. this morning. Officials with the Department of Natural Resources, Department Health & Family Services, Department of Transportation and State Patrol are at the EOC. The WI National Guard is also on standby and the Joint Operations Center is activated. Governor Doyle is being kept updated on the situation. WEM staff has been in contact with local emergency management officials and WEM Regional Directors Lois Ristow and Dan Dahlke are heading to Vernon and LaCrosse Counties. A FEMA Region V official is expected to arrive at the State EOC this afternoon.

CRAWFORD COUNTY –

NEW Information: 75 homes in downtown Gays Mills are underwater. Rescue operations are being conducted by boat. State Patrol is sending 20 officers to the area to assist with traffic control. Red Cross has set up a shelter at County X at North Crawford School.

PRIOR Information: Downtown Gays Mills has been evacuated and declared a state of emergency. People have been taken to the fire station. Numerous reports of mud slides and flooded roads. As a precaution, six patients from a Soldiers Grove nursing home were evacuated to a nursing home in Boscobel. Grant County Emergency Management officials are assisting with Crawford County.

RICHLAND COUNTY –

NEW Information: County Emergency Management is requesting 10,000 sandbags from WI Emergency Management, which are stored at Volk Field. The county has requested a generator for a pump at Pine Valley West Nursing Home, which has been evacuated.

PRIOR Information: The Pine Valley West Nursing Home located southeast of Richland Center was evacuated. Eighteen patients were transported to the main facility. Richland County Emergency Management reports 5-6 bridges are out and numerous roads are flooded. They have not opened a shelter yet but some people are coming to the Richland County Courthouse for shelter. The Village of Viola has declared an emergency and local responders have been sandbagging since early this morning. Several small communities are reporting flooding.

VERNON COUNTY –

NEW Information: Approximately 79 people living near 5 dams have been evacuated. The dams are DUCK EGG, RUNGE HOLLOW, RAAUM, CLOCKMAKER and SEAS BRANCH. Monroe and Juneau County Emergency Management officials are assisting. Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad line has brought in its own Hazmat team to oversee the five derailed train cars on the tracks ½ mile south of Goose Island. One of the rail cars tipped. The rail car contained acid, but Hazmat teams did NOT detect a release. The Vernon County Level B team and the Level A Hazmat team in LaCrosse have been released from the scene, but the railroad said it might recall the Vernon County Level B team to assist with decontamination.

PRIOR Information: A mudslide pushed a house onto Highway 35. Numerous roads are closed and bridges washed out. A 65 car train sitting on the tracks ½ mile south of Goose Island had five cars that derailed. Vernon County Level B team and the Level A Hazmat team in LaCrosse are on the scene. No word yet on if any materials have spilled. The area around the derailment has been evacuated. A school bus with 30 people on board located on Highway 162 was evacuated. Sidie Hollow, Wildcat Mountain State Park, Living Waters Bible Camp and Eagles Park have been evacuated. Evacuations have already taken place near Avalanche was water is over the Clockmaker and Seas Branch Dams.

LaCROSSE COUNTY –

NEW Information: No update.

PRIOR Information: The train derailment at Goose Island has prompted the evacuation of a county park. Minor flooding reported in other parts of the county.

GRANT COUNTY –

NEW Information: No update.

PRIOR Information: Grant County is reporting minor road flooding. Local emergency officials are assisting with Crawford County at this time.

DANE COUNTY -

NEW Information: Dane County Emergency Management is monitoring the situation. There are a few homes that are experiencing some flooding in the low-lying areas. There is water over some roads. They have 60,000 sandbags stocked. They are also willing to make staff available through mutual aid to other impacted areas if needed.

IOWA COUNTY –

NEW Information: High Water in northeast portions of the county. High water overnight in area around County K north of Barnevald. No roads are closed. The EOC is not open but the Iowa County Emergency Management is monitoring

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

NEW Information: No reports of flooding but emergency management officials are monitoring the situation.

GREEN COUNTY:

NEW Information: No reports of flooding but emergency management officials are monitoring the situation. A few trees were blown down overnight in New Glarus Township due to high winds and saturated soil. No damage reported.

NATIONAL GUARD

NEW Information: Richland Center and Viroqua armories are open and National Guard staff are assessing assets available to assist.