Presbyterian Disaster Assistance representatives, David and Carolyn Thalman, met with the session of Baraboo Presbyterian Church to discuss assistance to flood survivors and long-term recovery in the Sauk County area.

During the first two weeks of June, most of the Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota counties that are within the John Knox Presbytery received up to 16 inches of rain, damaging winds and several tornadoes.  At the peak of the storm, five inches of rain fell in one hour.  Severe flooding throughout the upper Mississippi River watershed has caused many rivers and tributaries to overflow their banks — most above record heights.

This has been the second “100-year flood” in two years. 

Thirty counties of Wisconsin are under a state of emergency declaration due to flooding. At least 976 homes have been destroyed or damaged, and many residents displaced.

PDA National Response Team members, Dave and Carolyn Thalman, have traveled to several areas within John Knox Presbytery. The presbytery is working with the state chapter of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), and a presbytery disaster coordinator has been chosen to lead the response.  One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds are immediately available to assist with the presbytery’s response. 

Flooding is widespread, and many roads are still closed.  The residents in affected areas have flooded basements, and the water table is still too high to pump them out.  Most jurisdictions are still in the immediate relief stage, and the Red Cross is still engaged.