Posted: 09.27.2010

Monday morning brought continued weather related challenges for Wisconsinites. 

The National Weather Service had "Frost Advisories" in effect for many Wisconsin counties until about 8 a.m. on Monday, and then there was the water related issues.

Some residents in the central Wisconsin town of Portage have fled their homes after a levee started to
fail. Water from the rain-swollen Wisconsin River flooded the only
road in and out of one neighborhood, threatening to leave people
stranded in their houses.

It wasn't clear how many of the roughly 300 residents remained
in the Blackhawk Park area after the access road was closed.
Officials say water is leaking from the Caledonia Levee south of
Highway 33, although it has not completely collapsed.

The levee is part of the Caledonia-Lewiston Levee System. The
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the system is made
up of several dikes built mainly out of sand during the 1890s by
homeowners living near the river.

Governor Jim Doyle has declared a state of emergency for seven Wisconsin counties:  Clark, Trempealeau, Wood, Jackson, Buffalo, Marathon and Portage.

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