Wisconsin flooding - lakes gone, homes washed away

[jay ratkowski]

Well... we got a LOT of rain over the weekend, here's what happened:

Lake Delton - NW Wisconsin... the lake is GONE! Huge tourist spot, no more.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=L2JbrRGqFWc

Houses in Lake Delton - GONE!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8RIPc3j41Qw

Some footage from my end of the state
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eruaKtTkbLw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UwieUKdOiIw

News:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=760802

Dams keep failing and streets are still being shut down every day. More rain tonight/tomorrow!

[Ayrton]

I am speechless...

Stay safe, your life is most important.

[Distantshore]

I saw some of this on the news. It seems so unreal watching homes just split in two and wash away. The scary part is,It just doesn't seem like the rains are going to let up either.
I feel for you guys and gals up there....please stay safe.

[jay ratkowski]

Forecast for today - Flash flood warning until Friday AM - thunderstorms likely, possible 1" or more of rain today/tomorrow. Just went outside and it feels like a storm is coming! It would be a shame if it started raining early and I couldn't get to work because too many roads were flooded... real shame....

The Lake Delton thing is still crazy to me... for the 99.999% of you who haven't heard of it, it's one of the major lakes that is part of the Wisconsin Dells, which is probably the biggest tourist attraction in the midwest (Noah's Ark, other water parks, tons of resorts, etc). I spent tons of time as a kid camping/fishing up there, going on boat rides on that lake... now it's a big patch of mud. I'm told they drained it 10-20 years ago to repair a dam and it filled back up pretty quick, so there's hope with that. I'm sure the poor folks who lost those houses will get some sort of federal aid (the big white house that falls into the water in the video didn't have insurance, some "technicality" ie code violation).

[jemsite]

mind-boggling

hope anyone from jemsite in the area is OK.

sad to see and more bad results of our neglected, old infrastructure... glen

[ScottB]

Stay safe Jay. The video is unbelievable.

Keep your canteens wet and your powder dry.

[jim777]

Our thoughts are with you and your neighbors Jay, let us know if there's anything we can do to help. And watch out for those flooded roads!

[ken_r152]

I've been to Oshkosh before (actually, I got engaged there, too) and been to Fond du Lac, as well. Never been to the Dells, though. I can mentally see the area in my mind. Hope all is well, and stay safe.

[marcusc]

Jay,

Wow. I grew up for the most part in Brookfield. I feel for you guys. Stay safe.

Marc

[GilkyBear]

Jay, praying everything turns out ok for you and all those around you brother.

BTW, this thread will NOT turn into a political debate about global warming.

[jay ratkowski]

Thunderstorms going on right now... It is raining like crazy, probably another 2-3 inches in the Milwaukee area tonight I hear.

Wish had gotten a picture in time, there was a soccer field down the street from us with water within 6-8 inches of the top of the nets (that is what, 7 feet?).

I appreciate the kind words, and I am sure anyone else in the area does as well.

I should be clear though... My fiance ad I are very much safe. Our home is on high ground. We got some water in the basement, but nothing that is of any concern. There are a lot of flooded basements, cars and even homes in the area as well, but people are pretty safe here. Other parts of the state are far worse as they do not have the sewer systems we do. Probably the worst hit in this general area is the golf courses who were suffering from effect of late May cold weather and now this... I went and played 18 holes last Saturday about a hour before te storms hit and it may ne the last time I play for close to a month.