Flood damage to a road in Buffalo County (Photo: WI Emergency Management)
Flooding caused by torrential rains in western Wisconsin this week has prompted Governor Scott Walker to declare a state of emergency in the region.
Up to ten inches of rain has fallen in 13 counties since Wednesday, leaving roads impassable from flooding and mudslides. One person was also killed in Vernon County when a mudslide carried their home down a hill.
Walker’s declaration issued Thursday afternoon covers Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The governor also instructed the Wisconsin National Guard and all state agencies to provide assistance to those affected by the ongoing disaster.