Flash flooding leads to water rescues in Milwaukee, last day of Wisconsin State Fair canceled
Milwaukee County under state of emergency, Flood Warning until Monday, officials say
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee County was under a state of emergency Sunday as several roads were blocked off and neighbors impacted by flooding tried to salvage what's left after what's being called a historic rainfall.
Officials warned the threat was not over yet as the area remained under a flood warning.
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The city of Milwaukee and its surrounding suburbs were still trying to dry out Sunday night after getting hit with more than a foot of water from a historic rainfall that caused flash flooding, taking many by surprise.
"I slept in the basement like right next to the sump pump making sure that it was working and turning on," Wauwatosa resident Bill Suechting said.
Suechting lives near the Menomonee River, which after Saturday's night's storm has spilled over on to neighborhood streets. The river got within feet of his front door.
"There was lot of lightning and thunder and just wanted it to be over," Suechting said. "We were up 2, 3 in the morning outside just watching it creep closer and closer and then recede, so we were one of the fortunate ones."
Thousands of other Milwaukee County residents were not so lucky
The night of the storm, sewers were operating in reverse, pushing out flood waters into people's yards.
The Milwaukee Fire Department said emergency responders were inundated with 911 calls, responding to more than 600 calls for help from Saturday night up until Sunday morning, including dozens of water rescues.
One man and his friend jumped into the flood waters to help people trapped in cars.
Thousands are now dealing with the aftermath, including damage to their homes and cars, and basements were still under water.
"We're seeing reports from some parts of the city that have received more than a foot of rain, more than a foot of rain in a very short period of time, this flooding event, it's very significant, something that Milwaukee hasn't seen in perhaps a decade or more," Milwaukee Mayor Chevy Johnson said.
Milwaukee County will remain under a flood warning until Monday morning, which forecasters say is expected to bring dryer conditions and hopefully a reprieve for impacted residents.
Wisconsin State Fair canceled as severe weather hits Midwest
Flash flooding canceled the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday as continued heavy rainfall in half a dozen Midwest states led to water rescues, power outages and road closures.
Organizers of the Wisconsin State Fair said they were canceling the final day of the 11-day event after rains flooded the fairgrounds in West Allis, which is just outside Milwaukee.
"We are saddened we cannot deliver this final day of the Wisconsin State Fair, but know that this is the best decision with current conditions and the forecast ahead," organizers said in a statement.
The National Weather Service issued flood watches and warnings for parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. After rainfall began on Saturday in some areas forecasters predicted "repeated rounds of heavy rain," along with hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes on Sunday.
Among the worst hit was the Milwaukee area, where as many as 10 inches of rain had fallen in some areas by early Sunday. Nearly 47,000 customers of We Energies lost power in southeast Wisconsin. USA Triathlon also canceled its Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee, where thousands of athletes were expected to participate.
Firefighters responded to over 600 calls including for gas leaks, electrical outages and water rescues, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. Meanwhile, city crews worked overnight to clear surface water.
"Please continue to avoid flooded areas and do not walk or drive through standing water," the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works pleaded in a statement. "It remains dangerous."
On Saturday, strong winds led to the death of one person in eastern Nebraska after a tree fell on a woman's car. In the state capital of Lincoln, the storms damaged two housing units at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, displacing 387 prisoners, the state Department of Correctional Services said. The agency said all staff and incarcerated individuals were safe and accounted for.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
