Heaps of damage revealed after waters recede
Numerous roads throughout Crawford County sustained major damage due to the heavy rain of Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. This is County B near Star Valley Road. (Photos by Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock)
The bridge on West Point Road in the town of Utica was damaged.
A large hole was created next to the bridge on West Point Road in the town of Utica.
West Point Road in the town of Utica suffered various areas of damage.
Debris was removed at the bridge on County H west of Highway 131.
A large amount of debris and road upheaval occurred at this location on County C.
All bridges in the county held but many sustained major damage.
There was undermining and debris at several bridges.
A raging Rush Creek north of Ferryville took out a large section of Rush Creek Road.
By Ted Pennekamp
Heavy rains that began the night of Sept. 21 and lasted until the early morning hours of Sept. 22, led to raging, flooding streams and a flooding Kickapoo River. In the aftermath, Crawford and surrounding counties are dealing with numerous areas of damage to roads, bridges, crops and private residences.
Crawford County Emergency Government Director Jim Hackett and Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock have been busy surveying the damage and attending to safety and clean-up concerns. It is too early to know the complete extent of the damage in the county, but Hackett said that updates will be issued as more becomes known.
Pelock said that roads have been damaged throughout the county but the most damage occurred in the towns of Freeman, Utica, Clayton and Haney, all of which sustained major flood damage.
“Freeman was the hardest hit of all,” Pelock said. “All the roads they have suffered major damage. I estimate it will run to about $1.5 million.”
Pelock noted that Rush Creek north of Ferryville rose to beyond 12 feet and there was two feet of water flowing over Highway 35 during the early morning of Thursday, Sept. 22. A large portion of Rush Creek Road has been wiped out and will need to be replaced. Pelock also said that there is a large hole in the road on Highway 171 near Gays Mills, along with numerous other roads with major damage.
Along with roads, many bridges caught large amounts of debris and sustained heavy damage.
“All of our bridges held,” said Pelock. “But many have been damaged and there was a lot of undermining.”
For the past couple of years, the county has been repairing several small bridges, and now it appears a lot more bridge work will be needed.
Pelock said that township roads sustained more damage than county roads. He estimated that there was about $600,000 in damage to the county system.
As of Sept. 26, several roads remained closed. Water over the road closures included Highway 171 at Mount Sterling to Highway 131 in Gays Mills. Another water over the road closure was Highway 131 from Highway 60 to Highway 179 at Steuben. The hill on a portion of Highway 171 from Highway 131 at Royal Bank to Highway 61 has lower slope failure.
County roads closed include County C from Highway 35 at Ferryville to Highway 131 at Soldiers Grove, County B at Rising Sun to Highway 131 near Gays Mills, and County U at Highway 171 to Highway 61.
Townships with closed roads include the towns of Freeman, Utica, Clayton and Haney. The town of Haney has a few closed roads.
Eventually, a report of damage estimates to roads, bridges, private property and all other damages will be sent to Wisconsin Emergency Management, who will then send the report to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Because Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency statewide, the state has to reach $8.5 million in damages to become eligible for FEMA funding. Everyone is encouraged to take photographs of their damages before cleaning them up. The photos can be dropped off at the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office or sent by email to Jim Hackett at jhackett@crawfordcountywi.org.
The Mississippi River is on the rise but original projections have lessened in the last few days. According to the National Weather Service, the river is expected to crest at 17.2 feet at McGregor on Sept. 28. Flood stage at McGregor is 16 feet, and 17.2 feet is considered minor flooding.
Last week’s projection had the river rising to 19.7 feet, and Prairie du Chien Mayor Dave Hemmer declared a state of emergency, which has since been lifted.
Twenty-five inmates at Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution were called upon to fill about 3,000 sandbags on Friday, and approximately 15,000 more had been ordered. The sandbag production was halted, however. The city of Prairie du Chien will now need to find a place to store the sandbags until spring.
The Washington Street Bridge in Prairie du Chien is expected to be closed.
