Roads remain closed, damage assessment begins as flood waters recede in Kenosha County

Flood waters in Kenosha County are receding, but motorists should continue to avoid closed roads, Kenosha County officials said Monday.

This could become especially difficult as visitors travel to the area for Country Thunder music festival in Twin Lakes beginning Wednesday, Kenosha County Sheriff's Department Lt. Horace Staples said at a news conference.

"When the waters recede we still need to make sure that our highway department goes in and makes sure those roads are still safe for travel," Staples said. "The visitors we're going to have … for Country Thunder are going to have some issues getting from one end of the county to the other." 

As of Monday, Kenosha County road closures included:

• Highways 50 at the Fox River Bridge (Highway W)
• W north of F
• B between F and AH
• EA between S and L
• 45 in Bristol (because of an unrelated Department of Transportation project)

Authorities said they have received complaints of people going around barricades and driving on closed roads. 

"When the road is closed and you go through roadways you are creating a wake," Staples said. "And that water has to go somewhere and it's hampering with the residents' cleanup."

Water safety continues to be an issue as Kenosha County received 300 additional water testing kits Monday afternoon, which are available at town and village halls.

Extended trash pickup will be available this week, and residents are encouraged not to burn trash after reports of incidents, specifically in the Town of Wheatland.

Areas of Racine and Walworth counties also encourage water testing and have extended trash pickup hours. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has trash removal guidelines for a more efficient process.  

Officials of towns and villages gave some insight Monday to the scope of damage within their municipalities.

Town of Brighton Chair John Kiel said 16 miles of roads were not passable at one point in the 36-square-mile town. 

He also said his town had significant crop damage in addition to basement and home damage.

"We have considerably low spots in our farm lands, and in times like these, that is a negative," Kiel said. 

Village of Somers President George Stoner said he estimated roads sustained about a quarter of a million dollars in damage, mainly on 13th Street. 

Residents are encouraged to consult FEMA before returning to possibly contaminated or structurally damaged homes.