Flooding was 6 to 8 feet high in Gays Mills after heavy rains. Credit: Grant County, Wisc., Emergency Management

The water-weary Midwest is again experiencing flooding from a storm system in the Upper Midwest. Minnesota and Wisconsin have experience damage to thousands of homes and many homeowners do not have flood insurance. The Minnesota towns of Rushford, Stockton and Houston were evacuated and still closed to residents and the Wisconsin towns of Gays Mills and Soldiers Grove were also evacuated.

Four Presbyterian churches in Minnesota are known to have suffered damage. Three churches (Utica, Chatfield and Lewiston) have extensive water damage with flooded basements; a church in Rushford has also sustained damage.

One church in Wisconsin (Muscoda) has sustained roof damage and possibly interior water damage.

The Bagley Area Recovery Committee has formed in response to the flash flooding that hit the southwestern Wisconsin town in July. Bagley, about 100 miles west of Madison, is a popular vacation spot with many summer houses. There are 339 permanent residents and another 300 seasonal homes.

PDA National Response Team member Jim Anderson is currently meeting with staff of John Knox Presbytery to provide assistance as needed and to represent the care and concern of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). PDA is providing One Great Hour of Sharing and U.S.A. Disaster designated funds to help the affected communities with flood-related relief activities.

Read Late Summer Flooding Affects PTCA-John Knox Churches , from the Presbytery of the Twin Cities.