PdC area takes on water during storms
The Mississippi River has risen enough to start flooding St. Feriole Island. The walkway along the river has been covered in some areas.
A drain on Wells Street deals with a heavy flow of rain water during storm on Saturday afternoon.
Storm clouds crept over the bluffs from Iowa on the evening of June 22. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
Much of southern Wisconsin endured stormy weather between Wednesday, June 18, and Sunday, June 23.
In Prairie du Chien, weather conditions oscillated between hot and sunny and stormy on Friday and Saturday. According to the National Weather Service, Prairie got approximately 1.6 inches of precipitation; however, multiple residents within the city, town, Eastman and Wauzeka reported as much as five to seven inches of rainfall.
On Monday, June 24, at 11:54 a.m., the NWS issued a flood warning for the Mississippi River’s Pool 10, which includes Prairie du Chien. Furthermore, Grant, Clayton, Allamakee and other portions of Crawford County fall under the warning, which lasts until further notice.
Originally, the flood warning was expected to last until Saturday, June 28.
Moderate flooding is forecast in the area, with the Mississippi River at 15.8 feet as of 11:45 a.m. this past Monday. Minor flooding is starts at 16 feet, and moderate flooding begins at 19 feet. According to the NWS, the river is expected to rise to 20.2 feet by Sunday afternoon.
Further down river, the Guttenberg Dam 10 is expecting minor flooding. The river is at 14 feet as of 11 a.m. this past Monday and minor flooding starts at 15 feet.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water managers currently have all of the dam gates above the water from Lock and Dam 2 in Hastings, Minn., to Lock and Dam 10 in Guttenberg, Iowa, according to a news release from the Corps. The gates are not needed to maintain the minimum nine feet of depth with the current conditions.
“Because the recent rain events fell with the Minnesota River basin, the rain adds to more water to the Mississippi River and will take several weeks to drain,” said Dan Fasching, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Mississippi River water manager. “Any additional rain during the next few weeks has the possibility to increase the flood risk.”
State of emergency
On Tuesday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m., Mayor David Hemmer signed a state of emergency declaration for the City of Prairie du Chien.
St. Feriole Island is expected to be closed to public motor vehicles on Friday, June 28, if current NWS predictions prove accurate. The island would be closed until further notice with the exception of walking traffic for the baseball games scheduled for Saturday, June 29.
The flood gate on Wells Street will be closed at 19 feet.
When the river reaches 19.5 feet, river traffic in Crawford County will be restricted by order of Crawford County Sheriff Dale McCullick and Mayor David Hemmer.
The Villa Louis will be closed for the remainder of the week. Further time closures will be evaluated on Sunday, June 30.
The Farmers Market and Music on the River scheduled for Thursday were moved to Lochner Park.
The Washington Street Bridge, 6th Street on St. Feriole Island and North Main Street from McLeod Street to Miller Street are closed.
For further information, refer to the city’s website (cityofpdc.com) and the city’s Facebook page.
Safety tips
A press release from the Mayo Clinic outlined several safety tips during flood conditions:
• Avoid flooded areas. Do not attempt to walk or drive through floodwaters. It’s difficult to judge the depth, and there could be hidden dangers beneath the surface.
• Stay informed. Keep updated with local weather forecasts and flood warnings. Heed the advice of local authorities and evacuate if instructed.
• Prevent water contamination. Ensure that your drinking water is safe. “Contaminated water can introduce bacteria and viruses into your system, potentially causing serious infections,” says Dunn. If you’re unsure about water safety, boil it before use or use bottled water.
• Protect your home. If you live in a flood-prone area, take precautions to protect your property. Use sandbags to divert water and move valuable items to higher ground.
• Stay dry and warm: If you do get wet, change into dry clothes as soon as possible. “Dry off thoroughly and take a warm shower to help stabilize your body temperature,” advises Dunn. “This can help prevent cold-like symptoms and other illnesses.”
• Watch for symptoms. If you come into contact with contaminated water and start feeling unwell, seek medical attention promptly. “Symptoms of waterborne illnesses can include diarrhea, vomiting and fever. It’s important to get evaluated at a local urgent care clinic if you experience these symptoms,” warns Dunn.
