State of Emergency Declared After Storm

Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson declared a state of emergency in 15 counties after storms this week caused significant damage, according to a press release from the governor’s office in Madison. Spring thunderstorms dumped as much as 8 inches of rain in parts of the Midwest and drove people from their homes and businesses, closed roads and washed out bridges Thursday. According to the governor’s release, preliminary estimates found the winds and floods caused more than $22.5 million in damages. The estimate does not include damages in five of the counties, where officials continue to measure losses.