By Gregg Hoffmann
WisBusiness.com
Damage from floods over the weekend could cost $8 million in Vernon County alone and has led to Gov. Jim Doyle declaring that county and Crawford County disaster areas.
Doyle was scheduled to visit the flood ravaged area Monday. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty also six counties in that state disaster areas. Up to six people were reported killed by floods or accidents caused by the weather.
The flood, caused by up to a foot of rain on Saturday and early Sunday, will have a major economic impact on the area. Roads were closed throughout Vernon and Crawford counties, and city streets flooded in La Crosse. Many businesses in the area were flooded and closed over the weekend.
In addition to flooding, landslides at higher elevations and along bluffs blocked roads and caused damage. Highway 35 was closed south of La Crosse because of landslides. A house was washed from a bluff onto the road. A train also was derailed along Highway 35 by flooding and landslides.
The Kickapoo River reached flood stage on Saturday, and people in Gays Mills and other smaller communities close to the river were evacuated and put up in shelters.
In Coon Valley, Coon Creek, normally a small trout stream, flooded and wiped out a park and damaged the town’s baseball park.
More rain was predicted for the area Monday and throughout the early part of this week.
