Rivers Swelling, Sandbagging Efforts Continue

(Columbia County) State officials put early estimates of damage to public infrastructure from storms over the past two weeks at approximately $51-million dollars. County emergency management officials were set to start conducting damage assessments on Tuesday, but the assessments are being postponed because of concerns about more stormy weather. In Columbia County, sandbagging efforts on Interstate-39 resumed Tuesday afternoon with 22 members of the Wisconsin National Guard assisting with the effort. An additional ten Guardsmen also filled sandbags in Wyocena. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections had an eight-member strike team filling sandbags Tuesday in Jefferson County. There are continued concerns about rising levels on the Rock River. The Rock River at Milford in Jefferson County is a foot-and-a-half above its banks while the Rock River at Watertown is over a half foot above flood stage; both locations are experiencing minor to moderate flooding. The south branch of the Rock River at Waupun since Saturday has remained in action stage, a foot-and-a-half below flood stage. The Beaver Dam River at Beaver Dam has been at flood stage and holding steady since Friday.