Flash Flood in Grant County, Wisconsin

Very heavy rain produced flash flooding across the northeast part of Grant County. |In Boscobel, numerous houses became surrounded by water with evacuations needed, most streets were flooded and cars were under water. 650 homes were impacted by the flood waters with two dozen families displaced. County Roads M and S near Boscobel were impassable due to high water and several other county roads between Blue River and Fennimore were covered with water and impassable. Portions of County Road C southwest of Woodman were under water. The flooding washed out sections of State Highway 133 outside of Woodman and Blue River. Debris was washed down Glass Hollow and Dry Hollow Creeks where it became lodged across railroad bridges in Bagley producing flooding in the town. The railroad tracks through Woodman were washed out. Flooding debris blocked some roads around Patch Grove. 54 canoeists had to be rescued from the Wisconsin River because of rising water.

A major flash flood hit Grant County during the afternoon of June 12th impacting the communities of Lancaster, Potosi, Tennyson, Ellenboro, and other rural areas. Numerous rescues were performed from people trapped in cars, especially in the Potosi area where terrain enhanced the runoff from repeat thunderstorms. Several homes on Hippie Hollow Road in Potosi Township were destroyed along with damage to as many as 600 homes elsewhere in the region. Many highways and county roads suffered flood damage including major bridge and road infrastructure.

Flash flood waters backed up in town as debris blocked area bridges. The water was three to four feet deep in places and propane gas containers began floating on the Mississippi River. Property damage in town was extensive.