• GAZLO
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Rock River to Crest by Saturday

Photo Gallery

Flooding photos

Severe storms and flooding have caused problems locally and statewide. If you have been affected, we want your photos. Send us your photo.

To view a gallery of photos of the flooding taken by Gazette photographers, click here.

View Gallery

JANESVILLE — The Rock River this morning was within a half inch of cresting, officials said.

The river was forecast to crest at 13.47 feet in Afton. The U.S. Geological Survey was predicting the crest would arrive at 7 p.m. today, but the city of Janesville predicted the crest would arrive Saturday morning.

The river was at 13.44 feet this morning in Afton, according to the National Weather Service.

“The (Rock) river is going to stay at this level until Saturday at some point before it starts receding very incrementally,’’ said Peter Riggs, administrative analyst for the city.

“As flood levels of the river have been rising over the last few days, they will recede gradually over the next few days,” he said.

County officials Thursday estimated flood damage at $42 million. Of that, $38.7 million is in Janesville. Damages estimates are expected to increase with continued flooding and evaluation of additional damage.

The $42 million estimate includes damage to businesses, homes, public infrastructure and agriculture.

Although no new evacuations or flooding in new areas were reported overnight in the city, water rose a quarter inch at the Hedberg Public Library, which will remain open today, Riggs said.

The Janesville Police Department is patrolling flooded areas throughout the city.

Gov. Jim Doyle declared Rock County a federal disaster area Thursday, making federal money available for individual assistance, such as home repair and temporary housing costs.

Those living in Rock and 18 other disaster-declared counties can apply for help by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or going online to www.fema.gov.

FLOODING IMPACTS

ROCK COUNTY

The Rock River this morning was forecast to rise less than a half inch more before cresting at 13.47 feet in Afton. The U.S. Geological Survey is predicting the crest will arrive at 7 p.m. today, but the city of Janesville predicted the crest will arrive Saturday morning. The river was at 13.44 feet this morning in Afton, according to the National Weather Service.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office “strongly recommends” residents in low-lying areas along the Rock River evacuate the area.

River levels

The river gauge levels around the county reported this morning include:

-- Rock River in Afton: Water level was 13.44 feet and rising. Flood stage is 9 feet.

-- Rock River in Newville: 14.99 feet and rising. Flood stage is 10 feet.

-- Rock River in Indianford: 18.25 feet and rising. Flood stage is 15 feet.

Road closures

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office, city of Janesville and state Department of Transportation report these roads closed:

Janesville:

-- Parkside Drive in Riverside Park north of Edge Hill Drive.

-- Joseph Street.

-- Charles Street.

-- 1100 block of Hamilton Avenue.

-- Elgin Avenue.

-- North Water Street.

-- Northbound North Parker Drive is closed from the on-ramp to eastbound Memorial Drive to westbound Memorial Drive.

-- The northbound exit ramp from Memorial Drive onto N. Parker Drive is open.

-- Parts of North Parker Drive, including northbound from Glen Street to the westbound Memorial Drive on-ramp and southbound from Sherman Avenue to Centerway.

-- Westbound on-ramp of Memorial Drive from southbound North Parker Drive.

-- Traxler Park Drive.

-- Hyatt Street from North Main Street to North Parker Drive.

-- North Main Street from Traxler Park to Wall Street.

-- Avon Street.

-- Centerway from North Parker Drive to River Street, including the Centerway Bridge.

-- Pease Court from North Parker Drive to Main Street.

-- Water Street from St. Lawrence Avenue to Hedberg Public Library.

-- Riverside Street from Stone Street to Palm Street.

-- North Palm Street from Rockport Road to Riverside Street.

-- Delavan Drive from Beloit Avenue to Putnam Avenue.

Rock County:

-- Smith Road from Avon Store Road to County T.

-- Beloit Newark Road from Nelson Road to County T.

-- Washington Road from Hartzel Road to Stebbinsville Road.

-- Hopkins Road from Douglas Road to Beloit Newark Road.

-- Christensen Road.

-- Happy Hollow, Sugar River and Carvers-Roehl parks.

-- 3600 block of South River Road.

-- Jones Road in Bradford Township.

-- County Line Road between Vogel Road and Old Highway 26.

Around Wisconsin:

-- Highway 213, northbound and southbound lanes, from Grand Avenue to State Street in Beloit.

-- Highway 33, all lanes in both directions from the Wisconsin River in Portage to Cascade Mountain Road, south of Interstate-90/94 in Sauk and Columbia Counties.

-- Highway 106, all lanes in both directions from County J to County A west of Fort Atkinson.

-- Highway 19, all lanes from County Q to Hubbleton Road in Jefferson County.

-- Highway 106, all lanes from Highway 12 to Falk Road in Fort Atkinson.

-- Highway 18, all lanes from Highway 89 to County Y in Jefferson County.

-- Highway 26, all lanes from Riverview Drive to Walworth Street, in the city of Jefferson.

Sandbags

Free sandbags and sand are available at these locations:

-- Janesville City Services Center, 2200 Highway 51 North, and Peace Park, 2801 Rockport Road.

-- Beloit Town Hall, 2871 Afton Road.

-- Town of Fulton, Fulton Town Hall, 2738 W. Fulton Center Drive.

-- Town of Milton, Mallwood Park, at the end of the Road Two East in Mallwood and also at Milton Town Hall, 23 First St.

-- Town of Rock Town Hall, 5102 S. County D, Afton.

-- Town of Janesville in a barn on Northwest River Road across from the Redwood Motel.

(Additional information can be found at the Rock County Web site: www.co.rock.wi.us.)

Residents affected by flooding may contact the Rock County Communications Center at (608) 757-2244.

To volunteer

People who want to help with flood cleanup should call Julie Cunningham of the United Way Volunteer Network at (608) 757-3058 or (608) 931-8376. The United Way will maintain a list of volunteers and contact them when assistance is needed.

Janesville cancellations and changes

-- Today’s movie in the park has been rescheduled and now will coincide with the Coin Carnival event July 26.

-- The teen bonfire and games scheduled for today at the Hilltop Pavilion in Palmer Park has been canceled.

-- Adult softball leagues at Dawson Field have been canceled indefinitely.

-- The elevator at the Janesville Senior Center is out of service. Some programming changes might occur within the building.

-- The Janesville Farmers Market will be held Saturday in the upper parking lot of the Rock County Courthouse because of downtown flooding, manager Teri Huber said. The lot is off Wisconsin Street. The market runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Town of Beloit

Starting Monday, the Beloit Township Emergency Operations Center, (608) 364-2996, will be open only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Clean-up efforts have been tentatively scheduled to start July 7.

Residents in the township between Highway 51 and the Rock River who did not receive the “Flooding Health & Safety Tips” packet distributed earlier this week may pick one up at the Beloit Town Hall, 2871 S. Afton Road.

The Beloit Township Fire Department is warning residents to stay out of floodwaters, as they are contaminated with sewage discharge.

Residents in the flooded area who are concerned about their wells should drink bottled water. If assistance is needed in getting bottled water, contact the Red Cross at (608) 365-8839.

As of Tuesday evening, 94 properties have been damaged, with 19 of them listed as major damage.

Town officials say 14 homes have been evacuated.

Jefferson County

Jefferson County road closure information is available by calling (920) 674-8648.

More flooding-related information is available at www.co.jefferson.wi.us.