Storms Batter Midwestern United States, Unleashing Record Flooding

(MENAFN) Severe storms battered the Midwestern United States this weekend, unleashing historic rainfall, widespread flooding, and extensive power outages across multiple states, media reported Sunday.

The extreme weather forced the cancellation of the Wisconsin State Fair’s final day, one of the region’s largest and most popular annual gatherings.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s biggest city, intense rainfall totaled between 8 and 11 inches (20 to 28 cm) within a single day, overwhelming drainage infrastructure and submerging roads, homes, and public areas under floodwaters.

Nebraska also suffered significant storm impacts, with flooding causing severe damage to a prison facility, leading authorities to relocate inmates for safety. The storm claimed at least one life and critically injured another after a tree fell on their vehicle in Two Rivers State Park, Nebraska.

In the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa, resident Loren Kaiser recounted the harrowing experience as floodwaters surged into his home during evacuation efforts. He told media, “The water just came in and everything in the garage started to float.”

Due to hazardous conditions from flash floods, organizers shut down the Wisconsin State Fair early Saturday at its West Allis location near Milwaukee. On Sunday, they announced via X that the event would not reopen for its final day, citing visitor, staff, and vendor safety as paramount. Those holding tickets for a planned concert were assured of automatic refunds.

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