Storm Hits Mercer Area Hard

MERCER, WI - Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - According to Iron County Emergency Management Director, Stacy Ofstad, heavy winds and a possible tornado hit southwestern Iron County shortly after 7:00 PM yesterday evening.

Emergency responders from Iron County, Town of Mercer, Town of Sherman and the Department of Natural Resources were dispatched and conducted search and rescue operations during the night. 

Ofstad said in a press release that the area most impacted by the storm was the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. Campers were evacuated from the area and placed in local motels for the night. Three people were transported to local hospitals with injuries occurring at remote campsites on the Flowage. The injured were brought by boats to waiting ambulances. One of the victims was evacuated by helicopter. The Towns of Mercer and Sherman declared States of Emergency and are now assessing damage.

According to a report by KUWS, "The storm cut a swath one mile wide and eight miles long from the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage to Mercer. It hit the area around 7 PM."

"Roseanne Rhey, who owns Donner's Bay Resort, said 'It was horrible. It was horrible. A couple people I talked to who have a cabin near the resort said it sounded like a train going through. It took a tree down on to our house and it took a couple of other trees down on the property but all my guests were safe and that's what mattered.'" The complete story can be found at BusinessNorth.com.

The DNR conducted a fly over of the area. The Iron County Highway Department is clearing debris on county roads and helping the towns with debris removal on local roads.

To view actions taken by the government regarding the State of Emergency in Iron and surrounding Counties, check out the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Division of Emergency Management website at http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov/.