Flooding continues in Columbia, Sauk counties

Rising waters on the Baraboo and Wisconsin rivers continue to cover roads and fields in Sauk and Columbia counties and have prompted emergency officials to recommend people in at least one low-lying area relocate.

Columbia County emergency management coordinator Pat Beghin said flooding on both rivers is a rare event, warranting officials to keep a close eye on conditions.

“It’s very strange for having both of them flooding at the same time,” Beghin said. “We just don’t tend to have those types of weather events (here), because the Wisconsin takes longer usually to develop and the Baraboo’s a little more flashy. We see the water a little more sooner.”

Roads in the towns of Lewiston and Caledonia were flooded; crops were also inundated within the area.

“I suspect we’re going to see some farmers that are going to lose a lot of crops,” Beghin said.

In Reedsburg, floodwaters caused officials to cancel the city’s high school homecoming parade.

“One of the roads that did flood was the detour route from Main Street, so we had no place to put the regular traffic from Main Street while the parade was going on,” Reedsburg police Chief Tim Becker said.

That road, Granite Avenue, had a few inches of floodwaters Friday, rendering it impassable.

Sauk County emergency management officials are asking residents to call 608-355-3200 to report water damage in their homes.

In Columbia County, officials said sandbags were available at the Columbia County Highway Shop, located at 338 West Old Highway 16 in Wyocena.

In a news release, emergency management officials encouraged people in the Blackhawk Park area near Portage, as well as those in other low-lying areas, to relocate.

“The biggest concern right now is the low-lying roads in the Blackhawk Park area are impassable as the river continues to rise,” officials said. “We encourage people living (in) such areas to relocate while they can, as emergency vehicles may not be able to get to them in a timely manner if needed.”

Both counties were under a state of emergency that was issued Thursday by Gov. Scott Walker.

For updated weather conditions and warnings, visit the News 3 weather page.