Flash Flood in Wisconsin, June 21, 1997

Flash flooding occurred primarily in southern Washington county as a result of heavy rainfall amounts in excess of 6 inches over a 30 hour period ending about 1200CST. This flash flooding was greater than a "100 year rainfall" based on rainfall frequency maps. No one was injured or killed by the flood waters, thanks to superb rescue efforts by local law enforcement officials and firefighters. Besides public sector damage in county/city parks, there was private and business damages. The hardest hit area was the city of Germantown. There were other reports of flooding damage scattered across the southern part of the county. (On July 7th, Washington county was officially declared a Federal Disaster Area, making county residents and business owners eligible for Federal disaster aid).The total of $2.7 million in property damages consisted of $2.5 million in residental damage and $200,000 in public damage.Areas along and near the Menomonee River experienced moderate to major flooding to nearby roads, homes, and businesses. In Germantown, 2 homes had severe structural damage, while about a total of 70 homes and basement damage wall damage and/or loss of personal property. Some car dealerships and repair shops suffered damage to new and used vehicles. A Germantown golf course had water depths of 3 feet, resulting in soil erosion. Several new lawns were washed away on West Bend properties. Several roads and underpasses across the southern part of the county were flooded with several feet of water, resulting in many road closures. Highway 41 was covered withwater to a depth of 5 feet at the Couinty Trunk Q overpass. Some drivers had to be rescued after their vehicles were swept away by deep, fast water currents over roads. Several roads in and around Germantown had portions of asphalt washed away by the flood waters. Rainfall totals for the 30-hour period ending 1200CST were about 7.50 inches in the extreme southeast corner of Germantown. Other totals included 6.26 inches near the Germantown city hall, 3.56 inches in West Bend, 3.40 inches in Hubertus, and 2.51 inches in Hartford.