There’s serious damage, but no injuries, according to a grateful mayor of Litchfield, Keith Johnson. Johnson also said it was the worst tornado damage he has ever seen in Litchfield.
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Diane Kelbing told KARE-TV that she and her husband raced to their mobile home park shelter when they heard the tornado warning siren.
“I got up the stairs and my legs were just shaking, but I got out and I’m just fine”, said Tschumperlin.”I found out my heart can beat pretty good”. Fifty residents were removed from the Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins after the home lost part of its roof.
The Red Cross said Monday night they were helping about 50 residents of a nursing home/assisted living complex in Watkins with safe, secure housing and clothing.
The weather service said the first tornado hit Litchfield about 5 p.m. Monday.
The storms also washed out sections of highways in northern Wisconsin and closed other roads.
Walker declared the emergency Tuesday following overnight rains. The release did not say how the people became trapped on the island.
The National Weather Service reported almost 10 inches of rain near Saxon, almost 8 inches of rain near Siren and 7.5 inches near Cable in northern Wisconsin. An emergency management spokeswoman referred questions to the Iron County Sheriff’s Department.
“Abandon campgrounds and camp sites near creeks and rivers”, it warned. Sections of U.S. Highway 2 and state Highway 13 south of Highbridge were closed Tuesday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting another round of thunderstorms Wednesday for northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Areas around Danbury to Minong, Hayward, Ashland and Hurley are expected to experience the most significant flooding.
The severe weather brought heavy rains, and parts of central Minnesota were under a flash flood warning on Tuesday morning. Firefighters helped the motorists out of their vehicles and blocked the roadway to prevent traffic until the water receded.
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Flooding remained a threat late Monday in east-central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
