National Guard members to help in flooding cleanup as Fox River crests overnight

Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency and called up the National Guard to assist residents in parts of Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties in deailing with flooding after yesterday's historic rains.

Guard members are expected to start arriving in the area early this morning. Walker is planning to visti the area just after noon.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding,” Walker said in a statement. “I have instructed state agencies and the Wisconsin National Guard to help those affected by the flooding and to continue to provide resources to assist with the response and recovery efforts.

"I thank the Wisconsin National Guard, Wisconsin Emergency Management, and all state agencies for their coordinated response to this emergency.”

Burlington Police Chief Mark Anderson said in a press conference early Thursday morning that the damage left behind by the flooding would be "unprecedented."

The good news from overnight is that the Fox River in Burlington may have crested and started to recede, according to a National Weather Service monitoring station on the river.

The river appears to have crested at 16.15 feet, more than 5 feet over flood stage. The previous record crest was 13.81 feet. As of 5:45 a.m., the level was at 15.98 feet.

Torrential rains flooded areas of southeastern Wisconsin with nearly 8 inches of rain overnight Wednesday, causing flooding, closing roads and knocking out power to thousands.

A second round of storms developed over south-central Wisconsin on Wednesday evening, threatening areas to the southeast, including Milwaukee, with more heavy rain, large hail, damaging winds and possible tornadoes.

A state of emergency was declared in Racine County.

At 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, the river had reached a stage of 14.6 feet, more than 3½ feet above the 11-foot flood stage and almost a foot above the record crest set in April 2008, according to the weather service.

"It's coming up fast. We're completely under in the back, no-parking area — and now we have a lake," Carol Rickard said Wednesday evening of the area around her Burlington home.

By 6 p.m., We Energies had restored power to almost 20,000 customers in the area whose service was interrupted, only to have about an additional 14,000 lose power after rising waters flooded a substation, utility spokesman Brian Manthey said.

By 10 p.m. the number of customers without power was down to about 6,000, Manthey said.

"We made such great progress during the day only to have this happen," Manthey said.

"We're doing the best we can, as is everybody in Burlington."

Mayor Jean Hefty ordered a 10 p.m. curfew for all residents because of the flooding in  Burlington, where 6.82 inches of rain had been recorded at the airport by 6 p.m.

"Now our washer and dryer are floating around in our basement," said resident Rich Cassidy, who lives next to the Fox River.

"We lost everything. And it's not stopping; it keeps going up."

A flood watch was issued for areas of southeastern Wisconsin, including parts of Racine County and all of Kenosha County.  

The weather service said parts of Walworth County were hit with nearly 7 inches of rain, while western Kenosha County recorded almost 8 inches.

Roads and highways were closed throughout Walworth, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha counties, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. 

Eight people and two dogs were evacuated from the Pleasant Prairie Mobile Home Park at 11703 60th St. because of floodwaters from the Kilbourn Road Ditch adjacent to the park, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling warned motorists to stay clear of rain gathering on roads.

"We would be foolish to not take proactive steps right now," Schmaling said. "Should you travel through large puddles, drive slow."

Schmaling said if vehicles get stuck in the middle of a flooded area, drivers should call 911 immediately and stay in their vehicles.

More than 6 inches of rain were reported in some areas of Waukesha County, where water gushed from displaced manhole covers in the City of Waukesha, the weather service said. 

According to Waukesha Now, Waukesha City Hall and the Waukesha Library were damaged because of flooding, and the library was closed.

More:City hall, library damaged by heavy overnight rains

Flooding in Kenosha County and Lake County, Ill., resulted in a temporary closure of the Chicago-Milwaukee Amtrak Hiawatha Service, but service was resumed Wednesday afternoon. 

Take a look at the damage below: