June 9, 2008

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    I have lost track of how much rain we've had the last three days ... eight inches, maybe?  Either way, I love this weather despite the state of emergency in most counties, the flooded roads, and the rumor I heard about the dam on the verge of breaking.  (Did any other locals hear this?  I was told that it was mentioned on The Weather Channel.)  I do think that it's just a rumor. 

    ADDENDUM: 

    I grew up on the banks of Dell Creek, which empties into Lake Delton.  Lake Delton and the Wisconsin River are the basis for the biggest tourist town within several states, Wisconsin Dells.  My sister lives there and my mom works there.  It is the biggest waterpark destination in the United States.  ANYHOW, Lake Delton overflowed and has almost completely emptied.  The lake tore a new riverway 300 feet wide and 50 feet deep on its way to the Wisconsin River early this morning.  Besides that overflowage, two or three other dams in the immediate area are now failing, including Mirror Lake.  (I've posted lots of photos from Mirror Lake over the years, and there is a Frank Lloyd Wright cottage near there that we've been meaning to rent for a weekend.)  Our county has now met FEMA standards for assistance.  It's absolutely incredible.  All of this extra water will be flowing down the Wisconsin River (towards us), but I expect that we'll be fine ... even if the local dam did go, which I don't think that it will.  This is SO incredible and I can't even begin to describe the devastation.  Wow, wow, wow. 
     
    My stepdad, who lives near Reedsburg, called a guy on the other side of his town to see about getting water pumped out of the basement.  The water pumping guy would have to travel over 100 miles out of the way to get to my mom's house because all connecting roads are washed out or flooded. 
     

    Some photos from Saturday, but nothing too interesting ...









Comments (21)

  • these photos remind of the three dog night song, eli's a comin'. not sure why ~ jack

  • Was just seeing homes in Wisconsin tumbling into the river!!!! So glad you guys are all good thus far. I think most counties in your state are under state of emergency. BE safe.!

  • i your weather!

  • I love nature in all her fury, too. But, like you, I do feel sorry for those affected.

  • Im now officially from Merrimac ( finally moved here from Madison), so I think I qualify as local. :) and I didn't hear of any dams breaking, but the one in Lake Delton couldn't hold all the water,  & took out a road and a few houses: It's all over the internet, so Im sure you've seen it.

    Insane weather! I took the ferry this morning, as usual, on my way to work.. The water was very, very high; the ferry actually seemed to have trouble docking.

  • It's been crazy this spring with tornadoes. I am so glad that I have not lost any trees (or anything else).

  • @dividedsky58 -  One of my grandma's lives near Merrimac (on Reusch Road)!  (We were married in Merrimac as well.)  Anyhow, yes ... I do know about Lake Delton and actually grew up just a few miles from there (on Dell Creek).  I heard that the Mirror Lake dam is also failing and that that lake is expected to spill too.  Wowza.  It's just crazy. 

    Regarding the dam breakage, a friend of ours from Madison said that the Prairie du Sac dam was failing and he saw that info on The Weather Channel yesterday.  I think that was false info though because everything here seems to be fine.  (Other than one fat river!) 

  • we've had a wet wet spring too, but not so much in the last week or so.

    and i love that last photo.  i'm a mite obsessed with clouds.

  • Thanks for sending some this way! Supposed to rain here all evening & we need it!

  • Amazing video. We've been having a weird spring as well, although nothing like what your video shows.

  • Water like that is frightening.
    We were recently in a city where we were evacuated due to the city being under that much water.

  • Wow. Craziness.  And it's 103 degrees here with no rain.

    I hope you guys will be safe.

  • The weather is certainly wild this year! 

  • i remember the flooding we had here a few years back...not "here" as in my city but "here" as in KC metro...and down thru missouri.  it's horrible.  i know what you mean about not being able to even describe it.  it's amazing what mother nature can do when she tears herself loose from restrictions we've put on her over the years.  i just feel so bad for the people living in her path.

  • Beautiful - I can honestly say, I think this is the most excited I've seen any of your posts, lol.

  • Stay safe & dry!

  • record heat here ... and your flooding there.  the earth, more and more it seems, is keeping in balance by displaying its extremes.  have you noticed, in the news, that tornadoes this year no longer target traditionally-slammed trailer parks but rather more established towns and major cities?  or is it just a current bias in news reporting in that slammed towns and cities are bigger reporting fruit?  poor neglected trailer parks.

  • Woke up this morning and saw an article about the devestation in Wisconsin. I know nothing about the geography of your area but that the first thing I thought is that I hope you guys are alright. Let us know?

  • @Fresh_Sprout -  We are all fine.  The worst is probably flooding in my mom's basement (in Reedsburg, where people are canoeing down the streets), which they recently redid with new carpeting, paint, etc.  'They say' that there is absolutely no danger down river from Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton, but there's more rain on the way.    Still, I feel safe. 

  • So youre from wisconsin too, eh?

    I'll be going to the Dells this weekend. I'm curious to see what reprocussions the destruction has caused on the area.

  • i was wondering about you since i saw the news about lake dalton.  i'm glad to hear that you are well so far!

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