Western Wisconsin started to assess the damage wrought by torrential rain while stalled Amtrak trains started running again on Wednesday.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker viewed flooded areas on Wednesday and declared a statewide state of emergency after severe storms pounded parts of the state. Up to 11 inches fell in the region Monday, forcing evacuations in La Crosse, Vernon and Monroe counties. The area got another 1.3 inches of rain on Tuesday.
Two Amtrak trains carrying hundreds of travelers were able to move again Wednesday afternoon after being stalled in central Wisconsin for nearly a day.
One eastbound Empire Builder heading to Chicago and a westbound train heading to Seattle resumed their journeys about 12:30 p.m., a railroad spokesman said.
Rising water from copious rains forced the eastbound train with 218 passengers on board to stop outside of Tomah around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday. A westbound train with 267 passengers on board was stalled near Portage around 7:30 p.m., said spokesman Marc Magliari.
Trains began rolling after Canadian Pacific Railroad made repairs to tracks that it owns and Amtrak uses. The eastbound train was running more than 18 hours behind schedule; the westbound train was more than 22 hours late.
Passengers were joyful to be moving again. "In the dining car, we all let out a loud clap," said one passenger.
Walker directed state agencies and the Wisconsin National Guard to assist local authorities as needed.
![A home on Old Mill Road in Coon Valley was damaged when Coon Creek flooded and roared through the town. ] Shari L. Gross ï shari.gross@startribune.com Tucker Gretebeck estimates a 10-foot wall of water blew past a dam and flooded the valley where the Tucker and Becky's Pumpkin Patch resided since 2000 near Cashton, Wisconsin. Gretebeck and his land was photographed the day after the devastation on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/D5ZSPZ6XJBPHOOPTVRCI2BKWU4.jpg?&w=1080)
![Volunteers helped clean up the home of Monte and Luetta Nelson in Coon Valley where they have lived since 1979. Monte said they rebuilt once after the basement flooded. The Nelsons had help cleaning up from relatives and student athletes from Westby High School. Monte was apologetic that he was unable to help more because he had just undergone kidney dialysis an hour before. ] Shari L. Gross ï shari.gross@startribune.com People in Coon Valley, Wisconsin were cleaning up two days after a flo](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/NNMXKANMQAKPYV2DX3PFWJFGRE.jpg?&w=1080)
