FLOOD OF 2008: See all our coverage of the historic flooding that struck south-central Wisconsin

It seemed like the rain would never end, and when it did, people were left to wonder where all the water went.

On June 9, 2008, after several days of torrential rains, Lake Delton swelled 12 inches, causing County Highway A on the north side of the lake to collapse as the water carved a 400-foot-wide channel to the Wisconsin River. 

Officials in Columbia County thought they were prepared to handle significant flooding in 2008, but in June the rain just kept falling.

“We’d never seen anything like it,” said Pat Beghin, the county’s emergency management coordinator in 2008. The United States Geological Survey reported that between June 5-13, 2008, much of Columbia County received more than 14 inches of rain, resulting in millions of dollars in flood damage. Portage had the highest amount at 15.35 inches.

Baraboo Police Chief Mark Schauf was dispatched with firefighters to Silver Drive near Walnut Street in June 2008 when torrential downpours caused serious flooding south of town.

The first responders blocked off a section of the road that comes to a small valley because it was completely flooded with moving water. While stationed there with Engine Three, a driver blew past the roadblock and splashed into the floodwater. The vehicle turned sideways and started to float away.

Floodwaters threatened dams, properties and communities throughout southern Wisconsin in June 2008, leaving devastation in their wake.

More than 14 inches of rain fell across the state and the region from the end of May into the first week of June. Flooding in 2004, then thought to be the 100-year high point, was 2 feet lower than recorded at the dam in Beaver Dam in 2008. Cities throughout every watershed sent as much water downstream as possible. In Beaver Dam, agricultural pumps were enlisted to force water over the blocked Tower Parking Lot culverts far faster than the natural current would allow.

The late Fred Rogers used to advise youngsters viewing his TV show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” to cope with catastrophes, and news stories about catastrophes, by looking for “the helpers.”

Barry Pufahl of Pardeeville follows that advice every time he thinks back on the flooding of June 2008.

In the wake of natural disaster, leaders at all levels of government are faced with meeting the most urgent demands for assistance, while also providing accountability and long-term planning.

Receding waters of the 2008 flood left behind emergency projects that, with federal funding, pushed local agencies to re-prioritize and provided work as the national economy entered a historic crisis.

Anyone who lived in Sauk County in June 2008 can tell you where they were when the flood hit.

For locals, it’s a day etched in memory, like President Kennedy’s assassination, the Challenger exploding or 9/11. Weeks of wet weather were followed by a weekend rainstorm that gradually flooded the region and made national news.

ROCK SPRINGS — The saying a picture is worth a thousand words holds true at the Flood Zone Bar and Grill.

Owner Kevin Rose said when people from out of town ask about the flood of 2008, he directs them to a wall located across from the restrooms where photos showcase how Rock Springs was affected.

Reedsburg Chief of Police Tim Becker remembers being outside the Saturday before it started to rain, sandbagging different homes all over Reedsburg before the 2008 flood swept through the area. He had been in his position as police chief for a little over a year.

The memory that sticks out to him the most was how clear the sky was Monday, June 9, the day the Main Street Bridge closed.

The flooding that occurred throughout southern Wisconsin in June 2008 was historic in its proportion, with state officials estimating total damage upwards of $1.2 billion.

Although a total of 31 counties were declared disaster areas, the wreckage throughout much of Sauk County was jaw-dropping.

ROCK SPRINGS — Jamie Busser believes the village is about 90 percent recovered from the 2008 flood.

The hard-hit community was devastated when floodwaters from the Baraboo River inundated its downtown. The village’s park and recreation chairman and trustee said he believes the community never will get the remaining 10 percent back.

Heavy rain pounded Juneau County and the surrounding area this time 10 years ago, causing floods throughout the region still vividly remembered by those who were there to witness them.

Governor Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency for 30 Wisconsin counties, including Juneau County. Because of winter snow, spring rain and a ground level that was already saturated, the rainfall in Juneau County quickly turned into a flood.

On June 13, 2008, then Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency for six Wisconsin counties affected by severe weather, including heavy rain, flooding and tornadoes. Sauk County was one of them.

Although not as heavily impacted as other places around Sauk County, Sauk Prairie area emergency responders were busy with everything from water rescues to filling sandbags, traffic incidents and everything in between.

While ten years have passed since the great flood of 2008, for Columbus residents, the memories of those difficult days remain fresh.

During the weekend of June 7 and 8, 2008, the Columbus area was soaked with heavy, non-stop rain, causing water levels to rise rapidly. Flooding became a concern, but residents never expected it to get as bad as it did. It didn’t take long, however, for water to flow over the bridge across the Crawfish River on Highway 16/60. The city closed nine residential streets and soon Meister Park was underwater.