CLEANUP BEGINS
Lake Geneva area embarks on restoration effort after severe storm
Lake Geneva Public Works crews are seen cleaning brush left over from the July 3 storm, a process the city says may take weeks.
Crews from local businesses, Alliant Energy and the City of Lake Geneva Public Works Department have started restoration work after a sudden storm Friday brought three boating deaths and widespread destruction to the area.
Alliant Energy announced Monday it anticipated 90% restoration in the Como, Lake Geneva, and Delavan areas by 7 a.m. Tuesday.
In the areas that were hardest hit, such as Como, the restoration process has been more difficult because of the amount of debris that must be removed to safely make repairs or rebuild.
According to the Alliant Energy website, restoring power is a long, six-step process.
Crews had to assess damage, repair transmission lines, repair substations, repair primary lines to cities and emergency service lines, restore power to the secondary lines that bring electricity to neighborhoods, and finally restore power to service lines to individual houses.
Mayor Todd Krause issued a disaster declaration over the weekend, with the City of Lake Geneva Emergency Management Department, Walworth County and Wisconsin Emergency Management activating a 211 hotline for residents to report storm damage.
According to the National Weather Service, the damage was determined to have been caused by downburst winds, not a tornado. Estimated peak wind speeds reached 90-100 mph.
Downtown Lake Geneva has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Walworth County to help local communities rebuild.
"Our Board of Directors immediately mobilized to help coordinate resources where they were needed most," said Alexandria Binanti, executive director of Downtown Lake Geneva. "Together with community partners, we worked to establish cooling and charging stations for residents without power, delivered food and supplies to first responders and utility crews working around the clock, and helped set up food distribution efforts in Como for families impacted by the storm."
Binanti said that she has never been more proud of the community after spending the last several days talking with residents, businesses, volunteers and community partners.
"We also quickly partnered with Walworth County Habitat for Humanity to ensure recovery support extends beyond municipal boundaries," Binanti said. "Storm damage does not stop at a city limit, and neither should our compassion. Through this partnership, we are helping connect residents throughout the county with assistance for debris removal, home repairs, and other recovery needs."
The American Red Cross of Wisconsin opened a shelter (now closed) at the Walworth County Health & Human Services building in Elkhorn that allowed for any residents in the county that were affected by the storm.
Several local businesses stepped up as well, offering places for quick showers, areas to charge cell phones and an escape from the heat that held over the area through the weekend.
"Lake Geneva is often recognized for its lakefront, its tourism, and its beautiful downtown, but this week we have been reminded that the true strength of this community is its people," Binanti said. "The volunteers, first responders, public works crews, utility workers, nonprofits, businesses, and residents who have stepped forward without hesitation have shown what community looks like in action. The response over the last several days has been nothing short of inspiring, and I believe our community will emerge from this stronger than before."
In the course of seven hours on Friday, the Lake Geneva Fire Department responded to 75 calls for service as a storm with winds up to 100 mph blew through the area.
Calls included a dive rescue, two structure fires, two calls for people trapped in vehicles by fallen trees, and one person trapped under a tree. There were 37 calls for downed power lines, according to a post on the fire department's Facebook page.
Firefighters were called to a grain bin rescue in the village of Walworth, but had to decline because of other calls. They were soon diverted to a rescue at Big Foot Beach for a report of a capsized boat and 10 people in the water. Three of those victims, all children, drowned.
By the end of the day, 50 departments from around the region responded to the area after Lake Geneva called for assistance.
Alliant Energy brought in 60 additional crews to restore power to the area.
