Dispatches from the Ark, Part Whatever

Today, Friday, looks like it will be a fine day, but now the area is dealing with flooded roads. Michelangelo was supposed to take off early to return to Chicago, because he has a class to teach tomorrow morning. Then they closed down the interstate here and started re-routing traffic through side roads. Unfortunately, the main road they are using has been under construction and cannot handle any additional traffic. So it is jammed and very slow going.

I'm at work and Tom and Michelangelo are trying to figure out a way around the mess, but the mess is just about everywhere.

I have been bringing the laptop to work so we can track the weather radar during the storms. Today I am using it to locate open roads for people trying to find a way to get here or to get out of the Dells. Much of the interstate traffic is being routed through the Dells, and that is not such a happy option either. Also, the Department of Transportation keeps opening and closing roads as the situation develops, and what may be open right now may be closed in half an hour.

We are still among the fortunate, though, with no serious injuries or loss of life in our county. Lots of damage, though. The first estimate a couple of days ago was $4 million damage to private homes and business. As of this morning, that estimate had jumped to $15 million, and officials say this is only a fraction of what the final count will be. It does not include, for example, any of the areas that are so flooded that they cannot even get in to examine the situation.

There are some funny bits. One of the local attractions in the Dells is a ride on WWII amphibious vehicles ("Wisconsin Ducks") that go through the woods and on the river and (what was) the lake. Yesterday eleven of them were commandeered to help rescue people trapped in their homes in Baraboo.

One of the boats lying in the middle of the muddy remains of Lake Delton is a police boat. It got stuck when they had to go out to warn fisherman who were out on the lake as it was disappearing and didn't have the sense to come in. The lake was draining so fast (it emptied in about two hours) that they apparently were not able to get back by way of water, and I guess they just had a muddy trek to shore.