Downpours deluge the area once again
Plum Creek, a tributary of the Kickapoo River, in Eastman Township, overflowed its banks early Wednesday morning, Aug. 24. That area of Crawford County received about 4 inches of water overnight, while Steuben reportedly received 5.62 inches, causing significant flash flooding, damage and washed debris, road closings, etc. Flooding and scattered showers were expected to continue throughout the day Wednesday. (Photo by Correne Martin)
County S was among many Crawford County roadways covered with water Wednesday morning, Aug. 24. (Photo by Dennis Pelock)
By Correne Martin and Ted Pennekamp
Heavy rainfall over southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa caused significant flash flooding Tuesday evening, Aug. 23, into Wednesday morning, Aug. 24.
The greatest amount of rain fell in the Decorah, Iowa, area, where between 6.71 to 8.46 inches were reported to the National Weather Service at La Crosse. In northeast Iowa, some communities were even evacuated, shelters were set up and the Salvation Army was working to assist those displaced by the flooding.
“Widespread and life-threatening flooding is occurring, and in some places near-historical river and creek flooding, after overnight rains in northeast Iowa,” said the NWS in a statement on its website. “Mudslides and water over roads are also reported in Richland and Crawford Counties in Wisconsin.
“Water rescues have been occurring when people have driven into flooded water.”
One such rescue occurred near the intersection of Highway 131 and County E near Steuben, where a woman’s vehicle washed off the road when she tried to drive through water in the dark around 5 a.m.
According to Crawford County Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock, highway department employee Doug Oswald saw the woman was stranded, waded through the water to her and stayed with her until emergency personnel arrived. The Steuben First Responders, Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and Boscobel Fire and EMS responded to the scene.
The woman’s name was unknown at press time Wednesday morning.
“We saw flash flooding in the Prairie du Chien, Gays Mills and Steuben areas,” Crawford County Emergency Management Director Jim Hackett said at about 9 a.m. Wednesday. “We did have a mud slide on County S and Highway 35.”
Area rainfall reports early Wednesday morning, according to the NWS and Pelock, were as follows:
•Steuben 5.62
•Ferryville 5.14
•Gays Mills 5.10
•Lynxville 4.74
•Seneca 4.50
•Eastman 4.00
•De Soto 3.56
•Prairie du Chien 3.52
•Monona 2.07
•Marquette .63
•Guttenberg .53
Water washing over several roads was among the main concerns in Crawford County.
“We haven’t lost any roadways yet,” said Pelock, who noted that affected roadways included County W, Highway 179, Highway 131, County S, County E, Sand Hill Road in Bell Center and Marietta Valley Road.
Pelock said highway department crews were out early Wednesday morning to repair several shoulders and lower slopes so the roadways in those areas do not give way.
As of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Pelock said water has receded off several roads in the county, but the Kickapoo River is rising and some areas remain under water. He said Highway 35 near Gordon’s Bay Boat Landing was still closed due to debris and a tree that fell down at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, blocking both lanes. Highway department trucks and loaders worked Wednesday morning to clear and reopen Highway 35.
“The Kickapoo River is in flood stage action zone and into minor flood stage,” Hackett pointed out. “This will drop by the end of the day on Wednesday.”
Current river readings on the NWS website show the Kickapoo River at Gays Mills is expected to hit 14 feet today (Wednesday); flood stage is 13 feet at that location. The Kickapoo at Steuben is also expected to exceed the flood stage of 12 feet, hitting 12.5 feet today (Wednesday).
The NWS warned flooding will worsen or continue throughout Wednesday. Motorists are asked to avoid travel in flooded areas.
Scattered showers were forecast, at press time, to linger in the area and possibly produce additional heavy rainfall all day Wednesday, ending early Thursday morning.
