Gov. Scott Walker calls for National Guard in southern Wisconsin to help with flooding cleanup

BURLINGTON - Gov. Scott Walker on Thursday declared a state of emergency for Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties and activated the Wisconsin National Guard a day after torrential rains caused widespread flooding. 

Eighty-five National Guard members were deployed in the areas, including flood-ravaged Burlington, where the American Red Cross set up an emergency shelter in the Burlington High School gymnasium.

The shelter will provide meals for those who stay and offer recovery resources and information.

Guard members in Burlington were stationed at flooded roads and four bridges in the city that were closed for safety reasons.

Members also checked about 120 homes along the Fox River to make sure residents were safe, Guard spokesman Capt. Joe Trovato said as residents coped with flooded roads and basements.

"We're pumping it (water) all out, but I'm not really sure where it's going, probably just back into the house," resident James Mitchell said.

"I live up on State St., so we just don't have any power and we have an old well, so no water either," Mitchell said. 

Walker said the flooding was some of the worst Wisconsin has seen in a while. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the flooding,” Walker said, adding that the main concern is the safety of residents. “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."

Burlington Police Chief Mark Anderson said Thursday that no damage estimates were available, but that the damage would be "unprecedented."

A 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was to remain in effect until further notice, Anderson said.

Recovery sites offering services for residents also were set up at Gateway Technical College-Burlington Center,  496 McCanna Parkway, and Gooseberries Fresh Food Market, 690 W. State St., Burlington.  

It appeared the Fox River in Burlington may have crested Thursday at 16.15 feet, more than 5 feet over flood stage, according to the National Weather Service.

The previous record crest was 13.81 feet.

Walker and the National Guard assessed the river and said it looks better than what they thought.

Officials expressed concern, though, that the Echo Lake Dam could burst and take out the bridges down the Fox River, adding that the dam will be monitored as the water recedes.

Although water continued to pour over the top of the dam Thursday afternoon, it had not failed, said Bill Sturtevant, a dam safety engineer with the state Department of Natural Resources.

Sturtevant said he intends to inspect the dam early next week after upstream water levels recede.

Nearly 8 inches of rain that fell on some areas of southeastern Wisconsin flooded roads and knocked out power to more than 30,000 people.

About 4,000 people remained without power Thursday, most of them in Burlington, We Energies reported.

More:City hall, library damaged by heavy overnight rains

State agriculture officials Thursday warned of possible contamination of produce that comes in direct or indirect contact with floodwater, which almost certainly contains bacteria, chemicals or both.

“When flooding occurs like it has the past few days, two things generally happen that might have negative impacts on produce," said Shawn Bartholomew, Safe Wisconsin Produce program manager for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food and Recreational Safety. 

"First is contamination of well water used to wash produce and second is direct contamination of produce in the field,” Bartholomew said.

Produce that has come in contact with floodwater is considered unfit for human or animal consumption. Producers who use well water to wash produce prior to sale should suspect contamination if the floodwaters can enter the top of a well or migrate underground to a well from a neighbor’s flooded well, the Department of Natural Resources warned Thursday.

Wells located in pits, basements and low-lying areas are especially susceptible and may not show obvious signs of contamination. Well owners who observe flooding or changes in their water should assume their wells are contaminated and should stop using the water, officials said.

All but one state highway in southeastern Wisconsin closed by flooding were open Thursday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

State Highway 50 over the Fox River near the town of New Munster in Kenosha County was expected to remain closed through the weekend, or until water levels recede, according to the DOT.

Officials suggested that motorists follow alternate routes along state Highway 83, state Highway 11 and state Highway 75 to get around the closure.

DOT officials also advised motorists to drive with caution when traveling in affected areas and reminded people to not drive through standing or flowing water.

Also Thursday, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District reported emergency blending of 27.1 million gallons of wastewater Wednesday and Thursday at the Jones Island sewage treatment plant to prevent sewer overflows.

That volume was pumped out of the Deep Tunnel and piped to the end of the plant where it was blended with fully treated wastewater, disinfected to kill bacteria and discharged to Lake Michigan.

Jordyn Noennig reported for this story in Burlington with Maddie Koss and Jesse Garza in Milwaukee. Don Behm of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report from Milwaukee.

How to help

Anyone wishing to contribute cash donations for flood recovery efforts may drop them off at any BMO Harris Bank in southeastern Wisconsin.