Flooding Forces State Of Emergency In Buffalo County, Wisconsin
GILMANTON, Wis. (WCCO) -- Communities in Wisconsin are dealing with the aftermath of Wednesday night's storms.
The sheriff's department says five to eight inches of rain fell in the area around Cream, Wisconsin in 45 minutes. The water rose up and flooded roads and farms, leaving cattle stranded in fields.
On Friday, a family in the nearby town of Gilmanton is trying to save what they can after the floods destroyed much of their home.
Buffalo county is under a state of emergency. County officials have advised drivers to stay clear of this area because so many sections of highways are under water or gone.
In a small town of a few hundred people, there's a big mess for the Laehn family.
"There's like four inches of mud just on the floor," Brittany Laehn of Gilmanton said.
Brittany and her sister Lindsey were asleep in their bedrooms in the basement When Thursday's storms rolled through. Their parents woke them as water started pouring in.
"By the time we got everything off the floor, the water was up to our waist and the electricity was on so we had to get out of there," Brittany said.
They tried to block the door using mud and wood, but it was too late. The water eventually reached the ceiling.
"My bed isn't really a bed anymore," Lindsey said.
On Friday, the water had finally receded so that family friends and strangers could wade trough through mud to try to save photos, clothes and anything else they could find.
"I can't believe someone can go through something like this and try to get things out you've had for years and years," Larry Becker said.
As one of six families evacuated in Buffalo County tries to figure out how to rebuild half of their home, they say they're grateful for sun and the support of the community.
The sheriffs office doesn't want people going through flooded roads since they don't know what could be in the fast moving water. The Highway department will be inspecting bridges first, then roads, before they will reopen county highways.
