Flooding cancels last day of Wisconsin State Fair, water rescues in Milwaukee
Milwaukee – On Sunday, the sudden floods canceled on the last day of the Wisconsin State Fair, while the strong precipitation continued in half a dozen Midwest states led to water rescues, power outages and road closings.
The organizers of the Wisconsin State Fair said they canceled the last day of the 11 -day event after the rains flooded the Fair field in West Allis, which is just outside Milwaukee.
“We are saddened that we cannot deliver this last day of the Wisconsin State Fair, but know that it is the best decision with the current conditions and future forecasts,” the organizers said in a statement.
The National Weather Service has published watches and flood warnings for parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. After the precipitation began on Saturday in certain regions, the forecasters predicted “repeated towers of heavy rain”, as well as hail, damaged winds and isolated tornadoes on Sunday.
Among the worst shots, there was the Milwaukee region, where up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain had fallen into certain regions before Sunday. Nearly 47,000 We Energies customers have lost power in the south-east of Wisconsin. USA Triathlon also canceled its national sprint and paratrithon championships in Milwaukee, where thousands of athletes were to participate.
The firefighters responded to more than 600 calls, especially for gas leaks, electric breakdowns and water rescues, according to the Milwaukee fire service. Meanwhile, city teams worked during the night to eliminate surface water.
“Please continue to avoid flooded areas and not to walk and not cross stagnant waters,” argued the Milwaukee public works department in a statement. “It remains dangerous.”
On Saturday, strong winds led to the death of a person in the eastern Nebraska after a tree fell on a woman’s car. In the capital of the state of Lincoln, the storms damaged two dwellings in the penitentiary of the State of Nebraska, moving 387 prisoners, said the State Department of Correctional Services. The agency said all the staff and imprisoned persons were safe and taken into account.
