Flood — Kenosha, Wisconsin

2004-06-01 to 2004-06-30 · Kenosha, Wisconsin

Wider weather episode

Scattered to widespread heavy rains across south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the period of June 9-12, 2004 kept many rivers and streams at or above flood stage for a good part, or most of the month. Monthly rainfall totals generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches across south-central and southeast Wisconsin, with some scattered spots in Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha Counties picking up 7 to 9.5 inches, or 50 to 100% above normal. In some cases, stretches of some rivers actually went above flood stage in May, 2004. Refer to flood and flash flood events in May, 2004, for additional information. During June, 2004, the high water levels kept much of the low, bottom-land under water near rivers and streams; closed some major state highways; forced water into basements; damaged corn, soy bean, and alfalfa crops; delayed planting of entire fields; washed out gravel road shoulders; or damaged foundations of homes and businesses. Two flash flood events occurred on June 9th (Columbia and Dodge Co.) - refer to those event narratives for additional information. In general, the June flooding was the worst since 1993 on a widespread basis, but locally it was the worst in the past 25 to 30 years. Federal Disaster Declaration 1526 covered all 20 counties in south-central and southeast Wisconsin for storms, tornadoes, and flooding for the period of May 19-July 3, 2004. All counties qualified for "individual assistance" and "individual assistance & public assistance became available for the counties of Marquette, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Columbia, Dodge, Ozaukee, Jefferson, and Kenosha. Below is a county-by-county breakdown (keep in mind that flood stage for rivers in these counties is 1 foot above bankfull - ponding of water in lowlands continues at between bankfull and flood stage).Marquette Co: Minor basement damage to 354 homes, and major basement damage to 17 homes. Estimated private property damage of $1M. Total damage to public infrastructure totaled $205,000. At least 28K acres of farm crop ruined for a crop loss of about $10M.Green Lake Co: The Fox River at Berlin continued to remain above flood stage for all of June. The river rose above flood stage of 13 feet on May 25th at 2115 CST, crested at 16.24 feet on June 18th at 0500 CST, 3.24 feet above flood stage (major flooding, new, all-time river stage record). On July 9th, the river fell below flood stage. At least 30,000 sand bags were used in Berlin to minimize property damage. The Fox River at Princeton rose above flood stage of 9.5 feet on June 10th at 2130 CST, crested at 12.19 feet on June 19th at 0900 CST, 2.69 feet above flood stage (major flooding). The river fell below flood stage on July 1st. Consult the July 2004 edition of StormData for more information. County-wide, minor basment flood damage to 22 homes, and major damage to 9 homes. At least 3 houses were completely destroyed. Estimated private property damage of $2M. Total public infrastructure damage totaled $716,000. Crop losses about $15M.Fond du Lac Co: At least 3869 houses reported basement flooding. Minor damage to 1040 homes, and major damage to 31 homes (total of $4.21M). Minor damage to 8 businesses, and major damage to 1 business (total of $231K). Total private sector flood damage about $4.4M. Total damage to public infrastructure totaled $363K. Crop losses estimated at $63M. Sheboygan Co: The Sheboygan River at Sheboygan rose above flood stage of 8 feet on June 11th at 1036 CST, crested at 10.36 feet on June 12th at 1700 CST, 2.36 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 13th at 1720 CST. Crop losses estimated at $15M. Private property damage estimated at $1M. Sauk Co: The Baraboo River at Baraboo rose above flood stage of 16 feet again on June 10th at 0127 CST, after flooding once before during May. It crested at 18.69 feet on June 12th at 0445 CST, 2.69 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 17th at 1206 CST. The Rock River at Rock Springs rose above flood stage of 18.5 feet on June 14th at 0859 CST, crested at 18.67 feet on June 15th at 0105 CST, 0.17 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 15th at 1745 CST. Minor basement flood damage to 67 homes, with major damage to 6, and 5 houses completely destroyed. Total estimated private property damage at $2M. Estimated public infrastructure damage of $100K. Total crop losses estimated at $10M. Columbia Co: The Wisconsin River at Portage rose above flood stage of 17 feet on June 13th at 0000 CST, crested at 17.61 feet on June 16th at 0703 CST, 0.61 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 17th at 1229 CST. Sixty-nine houses reported basement damage. Total damage to public infrastructure totaled $1,938,500. Estimated private property damage of $2.0M. Estimated crop damage of $20M.Dodge Co: The Beaverdam River at Beaver Dam rose above flood stage of 9 feet on June 9th at 1915 CST, crested at 10.68 feet on June 14th at 1615 CST, 1.68 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below its flood stage on June 25th at 2242 CST. The Rock River at Horicon rose above flood stage of 8.5 feet on June 12th at 0000 CST, crested at 9.06 feet on June 21st at 1730 CST, 0.56 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 22nd at 0645 CST. Minor basement flood damage to 196 homes. Estimated private property damage of $2M. Total public infrastructure damage about $800K. Estimated crop damage about $3M on 7000 acres. Washington Co: Estimated crop damage about $6M. Estimated private property damage of $2M. Estimated public infrastructure damage about $1M.Ozaukee Co: The Milwaukee River at Cedarburg rose above flood stage of 11 feet on June 11th at 1900 CST, crested at 12.97 feet on June 13th at 1730 CST, 1.97 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river remained above flood stage until June 16th at 2300 CST. One-hundred and nine houses reported basement flooding, with 1 house reporting major flooding and 8 houses being inaccessible. Estimated private property damage of $2M. Total damage to public infrastructure totaled $612,700. Estimated crop damage of $5M. Iowa Co: Estimated crop losses of $2M.Dane Co: Lake levels were 1 to 3 feet above normal. Minor baement flood damage to 127 homes, and major damage to 3 homes. Estimated private property damage of $1M. Estimated crop losses of $3M. Jefferson Co: The Rock River at Jefferson, the Rock River at Fort Atkinson, and the Crawfish River at Milford remained above flood stage for most of June. The Rock River at Jefferson rose above flood stage of 10 feet on May 24th at 1632 CST, crested at 11.51 feet on June 2nd at 1900 CST, 1.51 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 30th at 0809 CST. The Rock River at Fort Atkinson rose above flood stage of 6 feet on May 26th at 1200 CST and crested at 7.29 feet on June 4th at 2335 CST, 1.29 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below flood stage in early July. Consult the July 2004 edition of StormData for more information. The Crawfish River at Milford rose above flood stage of 7 feet on May 25th at 0400 CST and crested at 8.57 feet on June 2nd at 1700 CST, 1.57 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 26th at 0100 CST. The Rock River at Watertown rose above flood stage of 5.5 feet on June 10th at 0700 CST, crested at 6.09 feet on June 12th at 0115 CST, 0.59 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 15th at 0126 CST. Minor basement flood damage to 187 homes, and 37 were inaccessible (especially on Blackhawk Island southwest of Ft. Atkinson). Total cost for public infrastructure reached $263,530. Estimated private property damage of $2.0M. Estimated crop damage of $20M. Waukesha Co: Estimated private property damage of $1.0M. Estimated crop damage of $5M. Milwaukee Co: Basement flooding damage to 236K homes. Estimated private property damage of $1M. Lafayette Co: Estimated private property damage of $500K. Estimated crop losses of $1M.Green Co: The Sugar River at Brodhead rose above flood stage of 5 feet on June 2nd at 0350 CST and crested at 5.04 feet on June 2nd at 0650 CST, 0.04 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 2nd at 1450 CST. Estimated private property damage of $100K. Estimated crop losses of $1M.Rock Co: The Rock River at Afton continued to remain above flood stage for all of June. The river rose above flood stage of 9 feet on May 24th at 0122 CST, crested at 10.96 feet on June 1st at 0300 CST, 1.96 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The Rock River at Afton remained above flood stage until July 8th. Consult the July 2004 edition of StormData for more information. The Rock River at Newville rose above flood stage of 10 feet on May 26th at 1430 CST, crested at 11.49 feet on June 5th at 2300 CST, 1.49 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below flood stage in early July. Consult the July 2004 edition of StormData for more information. The Rock River at Indianford rose above flood stage of 10 feet on June 1st at 1215 CST, crested at 15.29 feet on June 4th at 1045 CST, 0.29 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 9th at 0522 CST. Basement flood damage was noted as well as pier damage along the Rock River. Estimated private property damage of $1M. Estimated crop losses of $2M.Walworth Co: Estimated private property damage of $500K. Estimated crop losses of $3M.Racine Co: The Root River Canal at Raymond rose above flood stage of 9 feet on June 17th at 1545 CST, crested at 9.56 feet on June 18th at 0330 CST, 0.56 feet above flood stage (minor flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 18th at 1900 CST. Estimated private property damage of $1M. Estimated crop losses of $5M.Kenosha Co: The Fox River at New Munster rose above flood stage of 10 feet on May 14th at 0145 CST, crested at 13.73 feet on May 24th at 1345 CST, 3.73 feet above flood stage (moderate flooding). The river fell below flood stage on June 6th at 1726 CST. Minor basement flood damage occurred to 115 homes, and 10 others had flood damage. Total damage to public infrastructure about $1M. Estimated private property damage of $2M. Estimated crop losses of $8M.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5407056. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.